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| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Greenland
local long form:
none
local short form:
Kalaallit Nunaat
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| Dependency status: |
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
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| Government type: |
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
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| Administrative divisions: |
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
note:
there are 18 municipalities in Greenland
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| Independence: |
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
note:
foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland
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| National holiday: |
June 21 (longest day)
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| Constitution: |
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
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| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995)
head of government:
Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since 19 September 1997)
cabinet:
Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament (Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties
elections:
the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 16 February 1999 (next to be held NA February 2003)
election results:
Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister following the 16 February 1999 elections; percent of parliamentary vote - 57.3%
note:
government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA)
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| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held on 16 February 1999 (next to be held by NA February 2003)
election results:
percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.2%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.1%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidate's League 12.3%, independent 5.2%; seats by party - Siumut 11, Atassut 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Candidate List 4, independent 1
note:
two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by not later than March 2002); percent of vote by party - Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party - Siumut 1, Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties (Siamut with Social Democratic Party and Atassut with Liberal Party)
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| Judicial branch: |
High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark) [Daniel SKIFTE]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Jonathan MOTZFELDT]
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| International organization participation: |
ICC, NC, NIB
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
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| Flag description: |
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white
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