Aleqa Hammond

prime minister of Greenland

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July 20, 2026

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Aleqa Hammond served as Greenland's first female prime minister, leading the Siumut party. Her government, which took office in 2013, placed a moratorium on oil exploration licenses and began requiring royalty payments from mining companies. Hammond's administration also indicated a willingness to permit the mining of radioactive minerals like uranium, which had previously been prohibited.1

Hammond temporarily stepped down in October 2014 amidst accusations of misusing government funds. She was replaced by Kim Kielsen. The subsequent snap election in November 2014 saw Siumut, led by Kielsen, win a plurality of votes, forming a coalition government. Greenland operates under an expanded home rule agreement with Denmark, granting it significant autonomy over domestic affairs while Denmark manages foreign relations and defense. The prime minister is typically the leader of the majority party in the Inatsisartut, Greenland's parliament.12

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Greenland
Increasing autonomy and the question of independence
…Greenland’s first female prime minister, Aleqa Hammond, whose government placed a moratorium on granting licenses for oil exploration and began requiring royalty payments from foreign concerns before they began mining. (Kleist’s government had planned to allow foreign firms to defer payments until some start-up costs could be recouped.) Hammond’s government…
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…Greenland’s first female prime minister, Aleqa Hammond, whose government placed a moratorium on granting licenses for oil exploration and began requiring royalty payments from foreign concerns before they began mining. (Kleist’s government had planned to allow foreign firms to defer payments until some start-up costs could be recouped.) Hammond’s government…
Read More