A majority of the voters in Nanortalik and the settlements want to secede from the Municipality of Kujalleq, shows the result of the indicative vote on Friday. Now the case must be forwarded to the Department of the Interior, says mayor Malene Vahl Rasmussen (D).
94.56 percent.
Such a large proportion of the voters present in Nanortalik and the settlements want to step out of the Municipality of Kujalleq and become an independent municipality.
– I respect the result of the vote, and I am not terribly surprised. The wish has existed for a long time, and since it has also been a political election theme and subject of debate, I am not particularly surprised by the result, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen about the result.
Although she is not surprised by the result, she resents the situation.
– Of course I am sorry about our situation, but I cannot change the work of my predecessors. I can’t change their priorities, nor can I change how little visibility they’ve had. Therefore, I will do my best to fulfill the responsibility I have now been entrusted with.
The case is transferred
Now that the voting is complete, the result must be forwarded.
– Now we drop the matter from our side. We have completed the vote, and we will forward the result to the Department of the Interior, after which they will continue the work, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen.
The structural committee on the municipal structure in Greenland will also receive the result. The committee consists, among others, of representatives from the municipalities and the Department of Home Affairs.
The committee must complete its work by the end of the year. The result of the vote can also be included in the basis when Naalakkersuisut and Inatsisartut have to discuss how the municipalities should be organized in the future.
A thorough investigation has not yet been carried out into what it will mean for Nanortalik to become an independent municipality and what consequences it will have. It is also not known what economic consequences a split will have.
Wants greater local influence
Since the large municipalities came into force in 2009, several cities and districts have wanted to secede. So far, one municipality has been divided. Qaasuitsup Kommunia was divided into Avannaata Kommunia and Kommune Qeqertalik.
Towards 2029, work must be done on how the municipalities in Greenland are to be divided, and the new municipal division must enter into force in 2029.
The citizens’ desire for greater local co-determination is often used as justification for the desire to become an independent municipality. That was also the reasoning of one of the citizens of Nanortalik, who wanted the municipality to be divided, and with whom we spoke on Friday.
The fact that the elected representatives and the mayor are not particularly visible in the city is also among the reasons for the desire for secession.
Malene Vahl Rasmussen does not immediately acknowledge that criticism:
– I can’t recognize that. It may be that they have not been visible enough in recent years. I have been visible and I try to follow as much as possible. But they have five elected representatives, and therefore I cannot recognize that you cannot meet the elected representatives, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen.
