Greenland picks up the pace on efforts to draft a constitution

Greenland now plans to have a constitution draft ready by the end of 2018 — significantly earlier than originally planned.

There are indications that Naalakkersuisut, Greenland’s Self-Rule Authority, wants to pick up pace in the process of establishing a constitution for Greenland.

Karl Kristian Kruse, who until recently was acting minister a.o. for independence, says to the Sermitsiaq.ag newspaper that a draft may be ready by the end of 2018.

In the commission’s mandate, which was presented last April, said that the aim is to have a draft ready in two to three years’ time. However, the time frame Kruse gave to Sermitsiaq appears to be only half of that.

The additional allocation of DKK 500,000 for next year’s budget may also be interpreted as a signal of increased speed in the process. These funds may among others be used to pay for a Nuuk residence for the Commission’s leader Vivian Motzfeldt.

High North News recently reported that the Constitutional Commission had stirred controversy and debate, amid news of Motzfeldt’s Nuuk residence and indications that the commission’s members may receive remuneration for their work.

Nivi Olsen, member of the Democrats opposition party, told the broadcaster KNR that there may be economic reasons for paying for a residence for the commission leader. However, she states in no uncertain terms that the commission’s members will not receive any remuneration for their work on the constitution.

“The Commission’s members are already members of the Inatsisartut (parliament) and receive remuneration for that. Furthermore, the Commission’s mandate does not allow salaries or other forms of remuneration for its members,” Olsen says in a press statement.