As reported by 'Vremya Novostei', in the new parliament the separatists will have 14 seats out of 31. Together with four seats of their allied party 'Demokraati' ('Democracy'), they gain a majority. Their leader Kuupik Kleist stated that Greenland 'is entering a new era'.
The world's largest island, four times the size of France, Greenland became a Danish colony in 1775, and from 1953 to 1979 it was a Danish province. In 1979, the Danish parliament granted broad autonomy to the island, which is home to only 57,000 people, mostly Eskimos (self-name: Inuit). Although two-thirds of the local budget consists of subsidies from Copenhagen, in a referendum in November 2008 Greenlanders voted to weaken ties with Denmark, which has a population of 5.5 million.
On June 21, the day of the local holiday, a regime of 'expanded autonomy' will come into force on the island. The region is granted the right to self-determination and management of natural resources. The official language in Greenland will become the language of the Eskimos – Inuit. Gradually, police forces, courts, and the coast guard will come under the jurisdiction of local authorities. Foreign policy and defense will remain under Copenhagen's control. After the separatists' victory, the question of full independence for Greenland may arise.