endence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas
administrative division)

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system: Danish

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972),
represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993)
head of government: Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15
March 1991)
cabinet: Landsstyre; formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of
parties

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Landsting): elections last held on 4 March 1995 (next to
be held 5 March 1999); results - Siumut 38.5%, Inuit Ataqatigiit
20.3%, Atassut Party 29.7%; seats - (31 total) Siumut 12, Atassut
Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2,
independent 1
Danish Folketing: last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by
September 1998); Greenland elects two representatives to the
Folketing; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total)
Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; note - Greenlandic representatives are
affiliated with Danish political parties

Judicial branch: High Court (Landsret)

Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut
(Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more
distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars
Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) (Eskimo Brotherhood, a
Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark
rather than home rule), Josef MOTZFELDT; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a
more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with
Denmark), Daniel SKIFTE; AKULLIIT, Bjarne KREUTZMANN; Issituup (Polar
Party), Nicolai HEINRICH

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.
Unemployment is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the
immediate future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel
lead and zinc