Jonathan Motzfeldt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonathan Motzfeldt
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Motzfeldt in 2003
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| 1st Prime Minister of Greenland | |
| In office 19 September 1997 – 14 December 2002 |
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| Monarch | Margrethe II |
| Preceded by | Lars Emil Johansen |
| Succeeded by | Hans Enoksen |
| In office 1 May 1979 – 18 March 1991 |
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| Monarch | Margrethe II |
| Preceded by | Hans Lassen as Governor |
| Succeeded by | Lars Emil Johansen |
| Member of the Landsting for Nanortalik | |
| In office 1 May 1979 – 2 June 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | Anders Olsen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 September 1938 Qagssimiut, South Greenland |
| Died | 28 October 2010 (aged 72) Qaqortoq, Kujalleq, Greenland |
| Citizenship | Kingdom of Denmark |
| Nationality | Greenlandic |
| Political party | Siumut |
| Spouse |
Kristjana Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen |
| Occupation | Priest, politician |
Jonathan Jakob Jørgen Otto Motzfeldt (born September 25, 1938 – died October 28, 2010) was an important Greenlandic priest and politician. He is known as one of the main people who helped create Greenland Home Rule. This meant Greenland could manage more of its own affairs.
Jonathan Motzfeldt was the very first prime minister of Greenland. He served as prime minister from 1979 to 1991. He then served again from 1997 to 2002. He was Greenland's longest-serving prime minister. He also won more elections than any other prime minister in Greenland's history. During his time as leader, Greenland became a more recognized country on the world stage.
Contents
About Jonathan Motzfeldt
Early Life and Education
Jonathan "Junnuk" Motzfeldt was born in 1938. His birthplace was a small settlement called Qassimiut in southern Greenland. His father, Søren Motzfeldt, was a hunter. His mother was Kirsten Klemmensen.
After finishing his teacher's training in Nuuk in 1960, he went to study theology (the study of religion) at the University of Copenhagen. He finished his studies in 1966. After that, he worked as a pastor (a type of priest) in Qaqortoq, Greenland, until 1979.
Family Life
In 1992, Jonathan Motzfeldt married Kristjana Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir from Iceland. They did not have children together. However, Jonathan Motzfeldt had two children from an earlier relationship. Their names are Karen Motzfeldt (born 1966) and Claus Motzfeldt (born 1969). A Greenlandic handball player named Hans Peter Motzfeldt-Kyed is Jonathan Motzfeldt's nephew.
Political Journey
Starting the Fight for Home Rule
Jonathan Motzfeldt began working for Greenland's self-governance in the mid-1950s. He was part of a group of young Inuit activists. In the early 1970s, Motzfeldt joined the Siumut party. This party wanted Greenland to have more control over its own government.
Motzfeldt became a key leader in Greenland's journey to gain more independence. He became very important to the idea of Greenland's Home Rule.
Leading the Siumut Party
In 1977, Jonathan Motzfeldt was elected as the Chairman of the Siumut party. He also served as the Speaker of the Greenland Landsting (Greenland's parliament). He held this role from 1979 to 1988, again in 1997, and from 2002 to 2008.
Becoming Prime Minister
On May 1, 1979, Jonathan Motzfeldt made history. He became the first-ever Prime Minister of Greenland. He led the government for almost twelve years. He stepped down on March 18, 1991, due to health reasons. After him, Lars Emil Johansen became Prime Minister.
Motzfeldt became Prime Minister again in 1997. He stayed in this role until 2002. He called for new elections because of concerns from the parliament about how the government's money was being managed. On December 14, 2002, Hans Enoksen, another member of his party, was elected Prime Minister. Josef "Tuusi" Motzfeldt, the leader of the IA party, became the deputy prime minister in the new government.
After this, Jonathan Motzfeldt was again elected as the chairman of the Greenlandic parliament.
Later Life and Passing
Jonathan Motzfeldt passed away on October 28, 2010, at the age of 72. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage (a type of bleeding in the brain). At the time of his death, Motzfeldt was the president of the West Nordic Council. This council works to improve cooperation between Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands.
See also
In Spanish: Jonathan Motzfeldt para niños
