New Elections, page-3

Oct 1, 2014 - 22:20
By Sabina Zawadzki
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The leader of Greenland's top opposition party said on Wednesday enough parliamentarians have crossed over to her side to bring about fresh elections after the prime minister took a leave of absence in a dispute over her use of public finances.
The political turmoil is likely to paralyse the government at a critical juncture as international companies such as London Mining Plc and Greenland Minerals and Energy are considering opening iron ore and rare earth mines.
Prime Minister Aleqa Hammond, in power since April 2013, escaped a no-confidence vote on Tuesday but stepped down temporarily until the end of an investigation into her spending of public money on hotels and flights.
The opposition kept up pressure on Wednesday and four ministers in total stepped down from the government, including two from Hammond's Siumut party and two from junior coalition partner Atassut.
Atassut had bolted to the opposition, according to Greenlandic media and Sara Olsvig, leader of the largest opposition party, the Inuit Ataqatigiit.
Olsvig said thanks to Atassut's defection, her bloc has a majority of 17 votes of the 31 in total.
Greenlandic media reported that acting premier Kim Kielsen had called for an election on Nov. 28 and parliament was to hold a vote on that proposal at 2300 GMT, assembly chairman Lars-Emil Johansen told Reuters.


http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/greenla...election--opposition-claims-majority/40811144