Greenland PM loses majority as pro-independence party quits coalition

Greenland PM loses majority as pro-independence party quits coalition
FILE PHOTO: Greenland’s Prime Minister Kim Kielsen stands in his office with a giant photograph of a sea eagle in Nuke, Greenland, June 2, 2016. REUTERS/Alister Doyle Copyright Alister Doyle(Reuters)
Copyright Alister Doyle(Reuters)
By Reuters
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Greenland's Prime Minister Kim Kielsen was working on Monday to form a new coalition after a pro-independence party pulled out, leaving his government without a parliamentary majority.

Partii Naleraq said on Sunday it was quitting the coalition over a plan for Denmark to part-fund the construction of three airports in Greenland.

That would imply direct involvement by Denmark in Greenland politics and "we do not want to be part of that", the party said in a letter, local broadcaster KNR reported.

Kielsen's coalition's was formed in May, and Partii Naleraq's departure leaves it with 12 of 31 seats in parliament.

Greenland is a self-ruling part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and while its government decides on most domestic matters, foreign and security policy is handled by Copenhagen.

The Danish government has been concerned that Chinese involvement in the project, as suggested by Greenland, could upset its close ally, the United States.

(Reporting by Teis Jensen; editing by John Stonestreet)

Share this articleComments

You might also like

EU hopeful North Macedonia holds presidential elections

Serb-majority municipalities boycott vote to remove Albanian mayors

Basque country holds most hotly contested elections in decades