Atassut

Political party in Greenland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Atassut (English: Cohesion/Link/Togetherness/Solidarity, also referred to as Feeling of Community)[4] is a liberal-conservative[1] and unionist[2] political party in Greenland. Founded on 29 April 1978,[5][6] Atassut is an established partner of Venstre.[7]

AbbreviationA
LeaderAqqalu Jerimiassen
Founded29 April 1978
HeadquartersNuuk, Greenland
Quick facts Abbreviation, Leader ...
Atassut
AbbreviationA
LeaderAqqalu Jerimiassen
Founded29 April 1978
HeadquartersNuuk, Greenland
Youth wingAtassutip Inuusuttai (Atassut Youth)
IdeologyLiberal conservatism[1]
Conservative liberalism[2]
Danish unionism[2]
Political positionCentre-right[3]
National affiliationVenstre
Nordic affiliationCentre Group
Colours
  •   Verdigris[a]
  •   Blue[b]
Inatsisartut
2 / 31
Municipalities
4 / 81
Folketing
(Greenland seats)
0 / 2
Election symbol
A
Website
www.atassut.gl
Close

History

Party logo until December 2024

Atassut was established in late 1976 as a political movement of conservative and unionist forces in Greenland to oppose Siumut with Lars Chemnitz as its leading figure;[7] however, it soon became more liberal.

Its first programme from January 1977 stated that its purpose was to "promote Greenlandic home rule within the Unity of the Realm" and "work against secession from the Danish realm."

Atassut was founded as a political party on 29 April 1978.[7] The party's name literally translates as "link" (in the context of being linked with Denmark as part of the Danish realm), but can also refer to a roof which binds a house together.

Previously one of the two largest and most influential political parties in Greenland, the Atassut has seen its share of the popular vote consistently decline since the mid-1990s.

In the 2001 Folketing election, the party lost its only representative and has never regained a seat in the Danish parliament.

In the June 2009 snap election, the party dropped to 10.9% of the vote; it lost three of its six seats. In the following election in 2013, the party was reduced to two seats, which they maintained in the 2014 elections despite fewer votes. Both MPs later defected to Siumut, one of whom was its chairman Knud Kristiansen.[8]

From the 2014 parliamentary election to 2016, Atassut was a part of a coalition government, led by Kim Kielsen from Siumut, that also including the Inuit Ataqatigiit.

In debate of refugees in Greenland in 2017, Atassut and Atassut Youths have been strong on not accepting refugees in to Greenland, where Inuit Ataqatigiit and Siumut want to take in refugees.[9][10]

In the 2018 general election, Atassut gained two seats in the Inatsisartut despite having no incumbents after both their MPs had defected to Siumut. In the 2021 election, Atassut retained its two seats.[11] Following the election, Atassut offered external support to the governing coalition formed by the Inuit Ataqatigiit and Naleraq parties.[12]

Ideology

Atassut has been referred to as liberal,[13][14] conservative,[15][16] and liberal-conservative.[1][12] The party supports privatisation of public industries, a form of citizen's income, NATO co-operation, and Greenlandic affiliation with the European Union.[7]

The party was previously opposed to Greenlandic home rule;[17] Atassut later shifted to supporting home rule and autonomy, but without leaving the unity of the Realm.[18] The party has moved from a traditional right-wing position towards later supporting the subsidisation of primary-sector business, alongside the centre-left Siumut party.[17]

Election results

Inatsisartut

More information Election, Votes ...
Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Status
1979 7,688 41.7
8 / 21
New Increase 2nd Opposition
1983 11,443 46.6
12 / 26
Increase 4 Increase 1st Opposition
1984 9,873 43.8
11 / 25
Decrease 1 Decrease 2nd Opposition
1987 10,044 40.1
11 / 27
Steady Increase 1st Opposition (1987–1988)
External support (1988–1991)
1991 7,536 30.1
8 / 27
Decrease 3 Decrease 2nd Opposition
1995 7,674 30.1
10 / 31
Increase 2 Steady 2nd Coalition
1999 7,100 25.2
8 / 31
Decrease 2 Steady 2nd Opposition (1999–2001)
Coalition (2001–2002)
2002 5,780 20.2
7 / 31
Decrease 1 Decrease 3rd Opposition (2002–2003)
Coalition (2003)
Opposition (2003–2005)
2005 5,528 19.1
6 / 31
Decrease 1 Decrease 4th Coalition
2009 3,094 10.9
3 / 31
Decrease 3 Steady 4th Coalition
2013 2,454 8.1
2 / 31
Decrease 1 Increase 3rd Coalition (2013–2014)
Opposition (2014)
2014 1,919 6.5
2 / 31
Steady Decrease 5th Coalition (2014–2016)
Opposition (2016–2018)
2018 1,730 5.9
2 / 31
Steady Steady 5th External support (2018)
Coalition (2018–2020)
Opposition (2020–2021)
2021 1,878 7.1
2 / 31
Steady Steady 5th Opposition
2025 2,092 7.4
2 / 31
Steady Steady 5th Coalition
Close

Folketing

More information Election, Greenland ...
Election Greenland
Votes % Seats +/– Position
1979 6,390 44.9
1 / 2
New Increase 1st
1981 9,223 48.9
1 / 2
Steady Steady 1st
1984 9,308 43.5
1 / 2
Steady Steady 1st
1987 6,627 41.3
1 / 2
Steady Decrease 2nd
1988 8,135 38.7
1 / 2
Steady Steady 2nd
1990 7,087 36.6
1 / 2
Steady Steady 2nd
1994 7,501 34.7
1 / 2
Steady Steady 2nd
1998 8,569 36.0
1 / 2
Steady Steady 2nd
2001 5,138 22.1
0 / 2
Decrease 1 Decrease 3rd
2005 3,774 16.4
0 / 2
Steady Decrease 4th
2007 4,094 16.3
0 / 2
Steady Steady 4th
2011 1,706 7.6
0 / 2
Steady Steady 4th
2015 1,528 7.6
0 / 2
Steady Steady 4th
2019 1,098 5.5
0 / 2
Steady Decrease 6th
2022 720 3.7
0 / 2
Steady Increase 5th
Close

Atassut was already established as a political movement at the time of the Folketing election on 15 February 1977, and the three Atassut founders Arqalo Abelsen, Ole Berglund and Otto Steenholdt ran as an association of candidates, which got 8,391 votes and Otto Steenholdt elected.[19]

Leaders

  • 2019– Aqqalu Jerimiassen[20]
  • 2017–2019 Siverth K. Heilmann[21]
  • 2017 Qulutannguaq Inuk Berthelsen (acting; after Knud Kristiansen left the party)[22]
  • 2014–2017 Knud Kristiansen[23]
  • 2009–2014 Gerhardt Petersen
  • 2005–2009 Finn Karlsen
  • 2002–2005 Augusta Salling[24]
  • 1993–2002 Daniel Skifte[25]
  • 1989–1993 Konrad Steenholdt
  • 1985–1989 Otto Steenholdt[26][27]
  • 1979–1984 Lars Chemnitz[28]

Notes

  1. Since 2019
  2. Prior to 2019

References

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