1979 Greenlandic general election explained

Election Name:1979 Greenlandic general election
Country:Greenland
Ongoing:no
Seats For Election:All 21 seats in the Inatsisartut
Majority Seats:11
Previous Election:1975
Next Election:1983
Turnout:69.58%
Leader1:Jonathan Motzfeldt
Party1:Siumut
Last Election1:New
Seats1:13
Percentage1:46.12%
Leader2:Lars Chemnitz
Party2:Atassut
Last Election2:New
Seats2:8
Percentage2:41.69%
Governor
Posttitle:Prime Minister
Before Election:Hans Lassen
Before Party:Independent politician
After Election:Jonathan Motzfeldt
After Party:Siumut

General elections were held in Greenland on 4 April 1979,[1] the first election to the new Parliament after the introduction of home rule. The result was a victory for the separatist and left wing Siumut, which won 13 of the 21 seats in the Parliament, over the unionist and moderate Atassut.[2] The difference in seats won became relatively large because of the use of first past the post in five constituencies in northern and eastern Greenland, which were all won by Siumut, while the two parties split the 16 seats in the multi member constituencies in Western Greenland evenly. As a result of the election Jonathan Motzfeldt from Siumut became the first head of government in Greenland.

Notes and References

  1. Tom Lansford (2014) Political Handbook of the World 2014, CQ Press, p393
  2. http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/greenland2.html Greenland