Siumut Uummannaq: Hammond should be chairman

Siumut’s local branch in Uummannaq has nominated Aleqa Hammond as a candidate for the party’s chairmanship. This means that the former party chairman, who was expelled in 2016 for financial abuse but later readmitted to the party, is now officially nominated by two local branches.

Siumut’s local branch in Uummannaq believes that Aleqa Hammond should be at the helm of the party again.

The department points out that the party’s lack of progress in the last two elections for Inatsisartut should be addressed, and that Hammond is the right person to lead Siumut back as the country’s largest party.

– We therefore first asked if she would accept a nomination, and when she said yes, we chose to nominate her, says Johannes Mathiassen to KNR.

KNR is in possession of a letter from Siumut’s local branch in Uummannaq, dated June 1, which was sent to Siumut’s central board and secretariat. The letter recommends Aleqa Hammond for the position of chairman of the party.

Has high expectations. The local branch in Uummannaq also expresses a clear expectation that Aleqa Hammond can unite the party if she becomes chairman again.

– That’s what we expect, says Johannes Mathiassen.

Aleqa Hammond is not new to Siumut, as she previously served as party chair from 2009 to 2013.

Expelled from the party

Her time in Naalakkersuisut came to an abrupt end after Inatsisartut’s audit committee uncovered objectionable matters. Shortly afterwards, she resigned both as a member of Naalakkersuisut and as chair of the party – although without leaving the party immediately.

Aleqa Hammond had used public funds for private purposes, including purchasing airline tickets, hotel stays, drinks, restaurant visits and other personal expenses. She only paid the bill after receiving five reminders.

But the matter did not stop there. In 2016, it emerged that Aleqa Hammond, as a member of parliament for Siumut, had used 13,000 kroner from parliamentary funds for private purposes. This led to her being expelled from Siumut.

Considered the matter harmless

After the exclusion, she became an independent and later a member of Nunatta Qitornai. However, in the fall of 2021, she was reinstated in Siumut with permission from the party’s then chairman, Erik Jensen.

The local branch in Uummannaq does not believe that Aleqa Hammond’s previous misuse of public funds as an elected politician will damage Siumut’s credibility if she is re-elected as chairman. – That’s not how I see it. I would have assessed it differently if the case had been handled in court or with the police. But that is not the case, and that is why we have made this recommendation, says Johannes Mathiassen.

Siumut is holding an extraordinary national meeting in Nuuk this weekend. The local branch in Sisimiut has also nominated Aleqa Hammond as a candidate for chairman.