Kim Kielsen (born 30 November 1966) is a Greenlandic politician, who served as leader of the Siumut party and sixth prime minister of Greenland between 2014 and 2021.

Kim Kielsen
Kielsen at Helsinki in 2012
6th Prime Minister of Greenland
In office
30 September 2014 – 23 April 2021
MonarchMargrethe II
DeputyAnda Uldum
Preceded byAleqa Hammond
Succeeded byMúte Bourup Egede
Leader of Siumut
In office
18 October 2014 – 29 November 2020
DeputyHans Enoksen
Preceded byAleqa Hammond
Succeeded byErik Jensen
Minister for Housing, Nature and the Environment
In office
7 November 2013 – 23 April 2021
Prime MinisterAleqa Hammond
Himself
Minister for Nordic Cooperation
In office
11 November 2013 – 23 April 2021
Prime MinisterAleqa Hammond
Himself
Personal details
Born (1966-11-30) 30 November 1966 (age 57)
Paamiut, County of Greenland, Denmark
CitizenshipKingdom of Denmark
NationalityGreenlandic
Political partySiumut
SpouseJudithe Kielsen
Children2
Residence(s)Nuuk, Sermersooq, Greenland

Careers edit

Past careers edit

Kielsen was originally a mariner, and then a police officer with Rigspolitiet from 1996 to 2003 in Upernavik and Paamiut.

Political career edit

Kielsen entered politics in 2005 when he was elected to the Greenlandic parliament for Siumut and to the municipal government of Paamiut. In the government of Aleqa Hammond, he was the minister for housing, nature and the environment. He became acting premier in October 2014 when Hammond stepped down and the Siumut party subsequently elected Kielsen as its leader,[1][2][3][4][5][6] awarding him 44 of the 65 votes.[7][8][9] On 4 December 2014 his party, Atassut, and Demokraatit formed a new coalition. On 10 December 2014 the new ministers were represented.[10]

In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's August 2019 interest in purchasing Greenland, Kielsen said the proposal was "not something to joke about", and "Greenland is not Danish. Greenland is Greenlandic. I persistently hope that this is not something that is seriously meant."[11][12]

On November 29, 2020, Kielsen lost reelection to the chairmanship of the Siumut Party to Erik Jensen.[13][14]

Personal life edit

Kim Kielsen is married to Judithe Kielsen, and they have two children.[15]

References edit

  1. ^ "Kim Kielsen". norden.org. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Kim Kielsen bliver naalakkersuisoq". Sermitsiaq.AG. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  3. ^ Cathrine Bloch, Berlingske Nyhedsbureau (18 October 2014). "Kim Kielsen ny formand for Siumut". www.bt.dk. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Kim Kielsen vil også være ny Siumut-formand i Grønland". jyllands-posten.dk. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  5. ^ "For Greenland's premier, two reasons to be relieved". The Arctic Journal. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Kim Kielsen ny formand for Siumut". altinget.dk. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Se billeder: Kim Kielsens store triumf". Sermitsiaq.AG. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Opdateret: Kim Kielsen ny formand for Siumut". Sermitsiaq.AG. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Aleqa støtter Kielsen". Sermitsiaq.AG. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Her er navnene på det nye Naalakkersuisut". KNR. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ Lee, Matthew And Olsen, Jan. (2020) "US to boost aid to Greenland in bid to counter Russia, China" Associated Press
  12. ^ Wise, Justin. (2019) "Greenland's leader rips Trump: Idea of buying territory 'not something to joke about'" The Hill
  13. ^ "Kim Kielsen tabte valget: Det er en lettelse". KNR (in Danish). Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  14. ^ "Erik Jensen felldi Kim Kielsen í formannskjöri Siumut". RÚV (in Icelandic). 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  15. ^ "Kim Kielsen - Naalakkersuisut". naalakkersuisut.gl. Archived from the original on 2018-12-06.