18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Danish Folketing:
last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); Greenland
elects two representatives to the Folketing; results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1
Landsting:
last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held 5 March 1995); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit
Ataqatigiit 5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1
Executive branch:
Danish monarch, high commissioner, home rule chairman, prime minister,
Cabinet (Landsstyre)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (Landsting)
Judicial branch:
High Court (Landsret)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner
Torben Hede PEDERSEN (since NA)
*Greenland, Government
Head of Government:
Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
US diplomatic representation:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly
to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom
half is white
*Greenland, Economy
Overview:
Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult and unemployment
increases. Prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are not
bright. The Home Rule Government's economic restraint measures introduced in
the late 1980s have assisted in shifting red figures into a balance in the
public budget. Foreign trade produced a surplus in 1989 and 1990, but has
now returned to a deficit. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and
zinc mine in 1989, Greenland today is fully dependent on fishing and fish
processing, this sector accounting for 95% of exports. Prospects for
fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp catches will at best
stabilize and cod catches have dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon
activities is not around the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some
potential for the near future. The public sector in Greenland, i.e. the HRG
and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in
Greenland accounting for about two thirds of total employment. About half
the government's revenues come from
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