Forward
Siumut
LeaderErik Jensen[1]
Founded29 July 1977
HeadquartersNuuk
Youth wingSiumut Youth
IdeologySocial democracy[2][3]
Greenlandic independence[4]
Political positionCentre-left[5][6]
National affiliationSocial Democrats
Nordic affiliationSAMAK
The Social Democratic Group
Colours
  •   Red[a]
  •   Gold[b]
Inatsisartut
10 / 31
Municipalities
31 / 81
Mayors
3 / 5
Folketing
(Greenland seats)
1 / 2
Website
www.siumut.gl

Siumut (Greenlandic: [siumut], lit. 'Forward') is a political party in Greenland in the social democratic tradition.[7][8][9] Since the establishment of home rule in 1979, it has been the dominant party in Greenland. Siumut is led by Erik Jensen, who beat the then-incumbent Prime Minister Kim Kielsen in a tight leadership contest in late 2020.[1]

Party members have been elected to both the parliament of Greenland and the parliament of Denmark.

Siumut was formed in 1971 as a political movement, and became a party in 1977. Following the establishment of home rule for Greenland in January 1979, the party won 13 of 21 seats in the 1979 Greenlandic general election for the newly formed Parliament of Greenland, and party chairman Jonathan Motzfeldt became the first Prime Minister of Greenland.[5][8]

History

Following the 1991 Greenlandic general election, Motzfeldt stepped down and was replaced by Lars Emil Johansen, also of Siumut, who governed in coalition with Inuit Ataqatigiit.[5]

Between 1997 and 2002, Motzfeldt was again Prime Minister, until he was succeeded by Hans Enoksen.[8] From 1979 until 2009 and since 2013, members of Siumut have served as Greenland's Prime Minister. In the 15 November 2005 general election, the party won 30.7% of the popular vote and 10 out of 31 seats in the parliament. In the 2009 general election, it won 26.5% of the popular vote and 9 seats and in the 2013 election, it won 42.8% of the popular vote and 14 out of 31 seats. At the 2014 election the party was still the largest party, but it lost three members of the parliament and has now 11 members. Siumut further declined to nine seats in the 2018 Greenlandic general election.

Positions

The party was an observer affiliate of the Socialist International.[10]

Siumut representatives sitting in the Danish parliament have been attached to the parliamentary group of the Social Democrats.[8]

Election results

Parliament of Greenland (Inatsisartut)

Election year Votes % of vote Seats won ±
1979 8,505 46.1 (#1)
13 / 21
 New
1983 10,371 42.3 (#2)
12 / 26
 Decrease 1
1984 9,949 44.1 (#1)
11 / 25
 Decrease 1
1987 9,987 39.8 (#2)
11 / 27
 Steady 0
1991 9,336 37.3 (#1)
11 / 27
 Steady 0
1995 9,803 38.4 (#1)
12 / 31
 Increase 1
1999 9,899 35.2 (#1)
11 / 31
 Decrease 1
2002 8,151 28.5 (#1)
10 / 31
 Decrease 1
2005 8,861 30.7 (#1)
10 / 31
 Steady 0
2009 7,567 26.5 (#2)
9 / 31
 Decrease 1
2013 12,910 42.8 (#1)
14 / 31
 Increase 5
2014 10,108 34.3 (#1)
11 / 31
 Decrease 3
2018 7,959 27.2 (#1)
9 / 31
 Decrease 2
2021 7,986 30.1 (#2)
10 / 31
 Increase 1

Parliament of the Kingdom of Denmark (Folketinget)

Election year Votes % of vote in Greenland Seats won ±
1979 6,273 44.1 (#2)
1 / 2
 		New
1981 7,176 37.7 (#2)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
1984 9,148 42.6 (#2)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
1987 6,944 43.3 (#1)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
1988 8,415 40.1 (#1)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
1990 8,272 42.8 (#1)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
1994 did not contest[c]
0 / 2
 		Decrease 1
1998 8,502 36.5 (#1)
1 / 2
 		Increase 1
2001 8,272 25.9 (#2)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
2005 7,761 34.3 (#1)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
2007 8,068 32.5 (#T-1)[d]
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
2011 8,499 37.1 (#2)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
2015 7,831 38.2 (#2)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
2019 6,058 29.4 (#2)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0
2022 7,424 38.6 (#1)
1 / 2
 		Steady 0

Symbols and logos

External links

Notes

  1. ^ Since 2021
  2. ^ Prior to 2021
  3. ^ In the 1994 Danish general election, an independent won a seat in the Danish Parliament, but it seems the Siumut party did not contest that particular election.
  4. ^ Tied with Inuit Ataqatigiit.

References

  1. ^ a b "Siumut gets new chairman". 29 November 2020. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  2. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Greenland/Denmark". Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Anti-mine party wins Greenland election". The West Australian. 7 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Siumut wants independence for Greenland". DR. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Bernard A. Cook (8 February 2001). Europe Since 1945: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 585. ISBN 978-1-135-17932-8.
  6. ^ "Greenland election shows divide over rare-earth metals mine". The Independent. 6 April 2021.
  7. ^ Christina Bergqvist (1 January 1999). Equal Democracies?: Gender and Politics in the Nordic Countries. Nordic Council of Ministers. p. 319. ISBN 978-82-00-12799-4.
  8. ^ a b c d Alastair H. Thomas (10 May 2010). The A to Z of Denmark. Scarecrow Press. p. 374. ISBN 978-1-4616-7184-8.
  9. ^ Greenland: Government and society, Britannica Online Encyclopedia.
  10. ^ Member Parties of the Socialist International
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