On Sunday, Aleqa Hammond and Vivian Motzfeldt will face off in a leadership contest in Siumut. Only one of them will win the title of party leader.
On the second day of Siumut’s extraordinary national meeting, drama is in store.
During the breaks, the different groups meet to find out what should happen when the item ‘election for chairman’ starts.
Up to this point, Aleqa Hammond and Vivian Motzfeldt have been nominated as candidates, but Siumut Ungdom and Kim Kielsen insist that it is Ineqi Kielsen’s turn to take the leadership of the party.
Ineqi Kielsen is out
Ineqi Kielsen announces that he will not run for chairman.
According to Sermitsiaq.ag, the reason for the rejection is that he cannot reconcile the chairmanship and family life. Ineqi Kielsen had hoped that the chance to get the chairmanship would not come until ten years later.
After Ineqi Kielsen’s resignation, he and the rest of Siumut Youth say they support Vivian Motzfeldt’s candidacy.
And his support for Vivian Motzfeldt comes with a hint for Aleq Hammond:
– I choose Vivian Motzfeldt because she doesn’t have a “judgment”.
Here Ineqi Kielsen refers to Aleqa Hammond who was caught misusing public funds.
Queen Election
In her speech, Aleqa Hammond starts by acknowledging her misuse of public funds. She then mentions that Siumut must once again be better at listening to fishermen and young people.
– Greenlanders must be number one in their own country. I am not afraid to work for my country and cooperate with foreign countries, says Aleqa Hammond.
Vivian Motzfeldt is trying to convince the delegates by saying that she will be a unifying figure who will stop the division in the party.
– I grew up with sheep farmers. That’s why I know how to work hard. We should be proud that we are from the Arctic, and with me as chairman, I will improve Siumut.
The hour of fate
There are 20 delegates present at the national meeting in Nuuk and 23 around the coast who are sending their votes via text message.
The votes are counted, and a majority quickly emerges for Aleqa Hammond.
She ends up getting 23 votes, while Vivian Motzfeldt receives 19 votes – two delegates have chosen not to vote.
A clearly moved Aleqa Hammond stands in front of the delegates and the press present.
– I will do everything for Siumut. We must always fight, even if we encounter problems, we must always move forward. Thank you Vivian for being the chairman.