Greenland foreign minister resigns as party quits ruling coalition
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The departure of Greenland's Siumut party from the coalition means that Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt - who has played a key role in diplomatic talks with the US - will leave her post, said reports.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Greenland's Siumut party exited the coalition government due to ministers running in Denmark's election without leave.
- Prime Minister Nielsen is frustrated by the timing, fearing division amidst US interest in Greenland. He stated it's "terribly bad timing".
- Foreign Minister Motzfeldt resigns, but the coalition maintains a majority with 19 seats despite Siumut's departure.
AI generated
NUUK - Greenland’s foreign minister has stepped down amid a political rift between her party and the ruling coalition, she told AFP on March 13.
Ms Vivian Motzfeldt’s resignation came after a decision by the Siumut party to withdraw from the Arctic island’s coalition government.
“As my party leaves the coalition, then I also need to be removed from my position,” she told AFP.
“On this situation, I do not agree with my own party,” she added.
Ms Motzfeld had been at the centre of high-stakes talks with Washington over US President Donald Trump’s threats to annex the autonomous Danish territory.
In January, she was received at the White House by Vice-President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio following renewed US claims on Greenland.
“The coalition with other parties is still consistent, and the work I have done will be taken over” by someone else, she said.
“And it’s not easy as a new beginner in this situation. So I don’t think it’s a good solution.”
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told local media he would take over her portfolio.
Greenland’s government in Nuuk and Copenhagen have repeatedly said that the territory is not for sale and that only Greenland can decide its future.
It is currently governed by a coalition that has no plans to seek independence from Denmark in the immediate future.
The Naleraq party, which wants swift independence and which came second in Greenland’s legislative elections in March, is not in government.
The social-democratic party, Siumut, which holds four of Parliament’s 31 seats, had been threatening to break with the government for days.
Even with Siumut’s loss, Mr Nielsen’s four-party coalition retains control with 19 seats.
Siumut criticised the government for not asking two ministers running in Denmark’s parliamentary elections to stand aside during the campaign.
Greenland holds two seats in the Danish Parliament, with elections set for March 24. AFP
