2009 Greenlandic general election

The pro-independence, left-wing opposition party, Inuit Ataqatigiit led by Kuupik Kleist emerged as the largest party with 43.7% of the vote.[2][3] Kleist set a new record for most votes in a Greenlandic election with 5,461 received. This compares with Akitsinnguaq Olsen who was elected with just 112 votes.[4]

The governing Siumut led by Prime Minister Hans Enoksen received 26.5% of the vote and lost control of the government for the first time in 30 years.[2] Former Siumut leader and Prime Minister Jonathan Motzfeldt failed to be re-elected for the first time since 1971, receiving just 91 votes .[4] Enoksen stated that he would step down as party leader, a position he had held since 2002, if his colleagues wished him to.[4] Siumut was believed to have lost votes over a series of scandals, including one over expenses, and concerns over its ability to manage with greater autonomy.[3]

The newly formed Sorlaat Partiiat gained just 383 votes in the election and dissolved shortly afterwards. The party stood on a platform of huge spending reductions and opposed Greenland rejoining the EU.

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Inuit Ataqatigiit	12,457	44.06	14	+7
	Siumut	7,567	26.76	9	–1
	Democrats	3,620	12.80	4	–3
	Atassut	3,094	10.94	3	–3
	Association of Candidates	1,084	3.83	1	0
	Sorlaat	383	1.35	0	New
	Independents	70	0.25	0	0
Total		28,275	100.00	31	0
Valid votes		28,275	99.18
Invalid/blank votes		235	0.82
Total votes		28,510	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		39,990	71.29
Source: Election Passport, Parties & Elections

Siumut was considered likely to be left out of government as both the Inuit Ataqatigiit and Demokraatit parties ruled out the possibility of working with them.[4] Siumut's former coalition partner, Atassut, gained too few seats to make a new coalition powerful enough to challenge for the government.[4]

On 7 June 2009 Inuit Ataqatigiit announced that it would form a coalition with the Democrats and the Association of Candidates.[5]