Inatsisartut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parliament of Greenland
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|---|---|
| 15th Inatsisartut | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 May 1979 |
| Preceded by | Greenland Provincial Council |
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New session started
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7 April 2025 |
| Leadership | |
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Speaker
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Kim Kielsen, Siumut
Since 7 April 2025 |
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First Vice Speaker
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Mimi Karlsen, Inuit Ataqatigiit
Since 7 April 2025 |
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Second Vice Speaker
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Mette Arqe-Hammeken, Naleraq
Since 7 April 2025 |
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Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Democrats
Since 28 March 2025 |
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 31 |
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Political groups
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Government (23)
Opposition (8)
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Length of term
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Up to 4 years |
| Elections | |
| Open list proportional representation allocated under the D'Hondt method | |
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Last election
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11 March 2025 |
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Next election
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2029 |
| Meeting place | |
_(Kenny_McFly).jpg) |
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| Inatsisartut, Nuuk, Sermersooq | |
The Inatsisartut is also known as the Parliament of Greenland. Its name means "those who make the law" in Greenlandic. It is the main law-making body for Greenland. Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Danish Realm.
The Inatsisartut was created in 1979. It meets in a special building in Nuuk, the capital city. There are 31 members in the Inatsisartut. They are chosen for four-year terms. Members are elected using a system called proportional representation. This system helps make sure that all political parties get a fair number of seats.
The parliament has many important jobs. It chooses its leaders and passes new laws. It also checks on the government's work. The Inatsisartut chooses the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then picks other government members. The parliament can even remove the government or a minister if they do not agree with them. The Prime Minister can also call for an early election. This means the parliament would be dissolved before its term ends.
Contents
History of Greenland's Parliament
The Parliament of Greenland took over from an older council on May 1, 1979. This older group was called the Greenland Provincial Council. The parliament is led by a group of five people. This group includes a chairman and four other members. There are 31 members in total in the Inatsisartut.
Who Leads the Parliament?
The Inatsisartut has a group of leaders called the Presidium. This group includes a Speaker and four Vice Speakers. All these leaders are chosen from among the parliament members. The Speaker is the main leader. They work full-time and manage the Presidium's duties. After an election, the Prime Minister suggests who should be Speaker. The other parliament members then vote to confirm this choice.
The Presidium handles the daily tasks of the Inatsisartut. They make sure members have good working conditions. They also manage how the parliament and government work together. The Presidium also shares information about the parliament's activities with the public. They also keep all the parliament's records safe.
The Speaker is the person who runs the meetings of the Inatsisartut. They decide which members can speak. They are also in charge of keeping order during discussions. Kim Kielsen is the current Speaker of the Inatsisartut. He was also the Prime Minister of Greenland from 2016 to 2021.
How Members Are Chosen
Members of the Inatsisartut are chosen in elections. These elections are fair and secret. To be a candidate, a person must be old enough to vote. They must also not have committed serious crimes. The Inatsisartut checks if candidates meet these rules after the election.
To vote in an election for the Inatsisartut, you must meet certain requirements:
- You must be a Danish citizen.
- You must be at least 18 years old on election day.
- You must have lived in Greenland for at least six months before the election.
- You must be able to manage your own affairs.
The election results are counted using the D'Hondt method. This is a way to make sure that parties get seats based on how many votes they received. Since 1998, Greenland has been one large voting area. This means the whole country counts as one single district for elections.
Recent Election Results
The most recent elections for the Inatsisartut were held on March 11, 2025. 2025 Greenlandic general election
Images for kids
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The structure of the Inatsisartut after the 2025 election.
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The meeting room of the Inatsisartut in Nuuk.
See also
- Politics of Greenland
- Elections in Greenland
- Prime Minister of Greenland
- Politics of the Faroe Islands
- Elections in the Faroe Islands
- Løgtinget, the parliament of the Faroe Islands
- Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands
- Politics in the Kingdom of Denmark
- Elections in Denmark
- Folketinget, the parliament of the Kingdom of Denmark
- Prime Minister of Denmark (list)
- The unity of the Realm, which includes Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland
- Other parliaments in the Nordic countries:
