It is now three months since, that Naaja H. Nathanielsen moved from the Ministry of Industry, Raw Materials, Energy, the Justice Area and Equality in Nuuk to Christiansborg.
With 1,953 personal votes, she secured the one mandate for Inuit Ataqatigiit and was thus able to take over party colleague Aaja Chemnitz’s office in the yellow corridor close to the Folketingsalen.
It is now three months since, that Naaja H. Nathanielsen moved from the Ministry of Industry, Raw Materials, Energy, the Justice Area and Equality in Nuuk to Christiansborg.
With 1,953 personal votes, she secured the one mandate for Inuit Ataqatigiit and was thus able to take over party colleague Aaja Chemnitz’s office in the yellow corridor close to the Folketingsalen.
Work with the government foundation
Here, she has had plenty of time to familiarize herself with work processes and delve into issues, while the Danish politicians negotiated a new government until 3 June.
– I am not one of those who were upset that it took so long to form a government. Because it has meant that I have had plenty of time to hold meetings with business partners and familiarize myself with the issues and topics that are prevalent here, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen, who during the entire period also had to keep an eye on the negotiations and ensure that Greenland was in the best possible position in the government’s foundation.
– I could have wished that the government’s basis was more concrete in relation to financing the Greenlandic initiatives, but having said that, I am also quite satisfied with the result. In any case, I can use it as leverage for many topics and debates, and I think Qarsoq can do the same, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen, referring to the other member of parliament from Greenland, Qarsoq Høegh-Dam, who was elected for the Naleraq party.
A new role
In the foundation of the government, Greenland is central, with general statements that the rights of indigenous peoples must be respected at all levels, and that nothing about Greenland must be decided without Greenland.
In addition, there are several concrete initiatives in the foundation, including the establishment of a submarine cable to Tasiilaq and the preparation of separate reports regarding the legally fatherless and the adopted.
For Naaja H. Nathanielsen, who has been a member of Naalakkersuisut for several years and thus completely inside the engine room of power, the role is now different.
– Personally, it is fine, because I have been in politics before, and have stepped out of politics before. I know that when you are in the engine room, you have access to special knowledge. And when you are out of the engine room, that power disappears.
– I myself chose to step down from my role as naalakkersuisoq to become a member of the Folketing instead. I currently have a seat in the Foreign Policy Council and other committees, and follow some information and can contribute with my opinions and attitudes. But my basic understanding is that the path that Greenland takes is defined by our own parliament and our own government.
The American interest
How do you see what is going on right now from the American side, for example with Jeff Landry’s latest comment about Greenland being the 51st state already next year?
– In relation to Jeff Landry, it is the case that we have gotten used to these insane statements. So we don’t even get really excited anymore. And that in itself is a sign of crisis. I have always held the view that we are in as great a level of crisis today as we were a year and a half ago. Nothing has changed. We have just become more used to being in a space of threats and uncertainty.
– That is why it is also important that Naalakkersuisut continues to stick to the red lines and that they are the ones who draw Greenland’s policy, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen, who has, among other things, turned down several invitations, including the celebration of the USA’s 250th anniversary at the American ambassador in Denmark.
On the podium
On 24 June, Naaja Nathanielsen took the podium in the Folketingsalen for the first time.
It happened during the extended question time with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, where she asked how the government will ensure compliance with the rights of indigenous peoples, to which the Prime Minister replied that it was a fair discussion.
“We have no other desire than to live up to the obligations we have”, said Mette Frederiksen, who also confirmed that the government had a desire for increased cooperation and more foreign policy equality between Greenland and Denmark.
– Of course, more is needed than that – and therefore I will continue to challenge the status quo, said Naaja H. Nathanielsen afterwards.
Frameworks and concrete initiatives
On June 26, the Folketing went on summer vacation. This means that there will be no meetings in the hall again until the first Tuesday in October. However, meetings will be held in the committees and legislative proceedings will be held, for example the Danish Minister of Health Ida Auken just managed to re-submit the bill on the compensation scheme for IUD victims on 25 June for consideration in August and September.
– I will go home to Nuuk here in July and hold meetings with Greenlandic business partners and politicians, and then I will return to Christiansborg in August, where I will delve more into judicial policy, defense policy and foreign policy, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen, who has so far asked 16 questions to various ministers.
On a more general level, she would also like to take a closer look at the framework for the work of the North Atlantic mandates in the Danish Parliament, which she does not feel is appropriate. In addition, there is the whole question of the constitutional framework – the Constitution and the Greenlandic room for manoeuvre.
– I think that we are increasingly being involved more in various areas, but there are still committees we cannot sit on. And we are also dependent on pool money. I would prefer that some of the more permanent funding became part of the Finance Act, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen, who generally feels very privileged to be allowed to work with Greenlandic politics in a new way.
