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Do you want self-government to be introduced in Greenland with the content and conditions outlined in the Greenlandic-Danish Self-Government Commission's draft self-government law? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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A non-bindingreferendum on Greenland's autonomy was held on 25 November 2008 to support or oppose the draftGreenland Self-Government Act. It was passed with 76% approval and a 72% turnout. The non-binding referendum was on expandedhome rule in 30 areas, including police, courts, and the coast guard; gave Greenland a say in foreign policy; provided a more definite split of future oil revenue; and made theGreenlandic language the sole official language.
The referendum was announced byPrime MinisterHans Enoksen on 2 January 2008.[1] Enoksen also announced the launch of an information and discussion campaign on the issue ofself-government. This includedtown hall meetings throughout the country.[2]
Greenland became aDenmark–Norway colony in 1775 and was made a province ofDenmark in 1953. In 1979, it was made an autonomous country within theKingdom of Denmark, with a parliament and local control of health care, schools, and social services. In 1985, it withdrew from the thenEuropean Economic Community (now known as the European Union) to maintain control of fishing in its waters. There has been some movement towards independence, encouraged by Denmark but held back by Greenland's need for economic subsidies.
A 2003 report from the Commission on Self-Governance outlined six possibilities for the future of Greenland.[3] These were:
Although it was anon-binding referendum, theDanish parliament supported it and promised to honour its results. The expansion of home rule took effect on 21 June 2009, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of home rule, when theAct on Greenland Self-Government took effect.
Greenland gained greater control of the police, coast guard, and courts.[4] In addition, theGreenlandic language became the sole official language.[4]
Oil revenues will be divided differently, with the first 75 millionDanish kroner (US$13.1 million) going to Greenland, and the remaining revenue split evenly with Denmark.[4]
Greenland's subsidies from Copenhagen will be phased out. In 2008 the subsidy was 3.5 billion kroner ($588 million) per year,[5] which accounted for about one-third of the island'sgross domestic product of 10.5 billion kroner[6] and almost two-thirds of the total income of the home rule government of 6.1 billion kroner.[7]
Greenlanders are also recognized as a separate group of people under international law.[8]
The changes were met with skepticism from some Danish politicians.Per Ørum Jørgensen, who helped negotiate the agreement, said that it may be "30–40 years" before Greenland is ready to take charge of itself. MPSøren Espersen from theDanish People's Party controversially claimed that Greenlanders had been "brainwashed with unprecedented propaganda" and that he believed "huge problems are waiting in the future".[9]
The referendum passed.[10] The Greenlandic government was pursuing future independence,[11] and the result was seen by some observers as a "major step" in that direction.[12]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 21,355 | 76.22 | |
| Against | 6,663 | 23.78 | |
| Total | 28,018 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 28,018 | 99.12 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 250 | 0.88 | |
| Total votes | 28,268 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 39,285 | 71.96 | |
| Source:Valg | |||
