Greenlanders vote in election dominated by resources, economy

AFP/CopenhagenGreenlanders voted for their legislature yesterday in a poll dominated by exploitation of the country’s vast natural resources and concern over rising living costs.The island’s 40,000 voters headed to polling stations in overcast and snowy skies, with temperatures ranging from one to -11 degrees Celsius.The election for 31 seats of the local legislature, called the Inatsisartut, pits incumbent Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist against Social Democratic hopeful, Aleqa Hammond, whose party headed the race in the latest opinion polls.“This is a difficult election. On the one side we have to secure a responsible economic policy, and on the other make sure to include a large part of the population that feels it is outside influence,” the editorial of the weekly Sermitsiaq said.“Opposition against the current coalition is due to too many without work, too many without an education,” it added.The island – which despite its huge size, has only 57,000 inhabitants – falls under Denmark. Like Denmark and the rest of Europe, Greenland faces the challenge of having to care for an ageing population, putting pressure on the economy.As costs rise, stagnant wages have become a pressing issue.“The rent is rising and our salary is not keeping pace. I have six children and I can’t pay,” Soes Holm, a deli counter clerk in a Nuuk supermarket, told Danish daily Politiken after watching the final election debate.Others were more concerned with a growing drug problem on the island.“People are drinking a little less than in the past, but in return hash has become a huge problem,” said Joergen Boasen, a telecommunications technician volunteering as a youth boxing coach.Copenhagen maintains control of Greenland’s foreign policy and defence, and transfers 3.5bn kroner in subsidies to Nuuk each year.However, with costs increasing, the current government estimates that Greenland will soon post a 1bn kroner annual budget deficit.Though it is still predominantly covered in permafrost, the gradual melting of its glaciers means hitherto untapped resources are becoming more accessible.Kleist’s left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) coalition and Hammond’s Social Democratic Siumut party agree that the territory’s natural resources should be exploited but differ over how this should be done.Kleist is keen to attract foreign investment to the potentially mineral-rich country, recently pushing through legislation known as the “Large-Scale” law which gives special rights to foreign companies investing more than 5bn kroner (670mn euros, $873mn) in big mining projects.Hammond says that the country needs to ensure it benefits from government revenue raised from natural resources that include rare earth minerals, uranium and oil.The electoral race had been tight but the most recent poll on Saturday showed Siumut pulling ahead with 1,817 voters polled giving it 45.2% compared to 32.3% for Kleist’s IA party.The Social Liberal Demokraatit party garnered 7.9%, the Inuit party 7.4% and the liberal Atassut party had 6.3% of the vote.Results are expected early today.