Aki-Matilda Høgh-Dam, a Greenlandic lawmaker in Denmark's Parliament, was asked to back away from the podium after declining to repeat a speech she delivered in Greenlandic in Danish, spotlighting tensions in the Danish Realm. Representing the Siumut party, Høgh-Dam's eight-minute address on a traditional debate day spurred a dialogue on the rights of Greenlandic and Faeroese lawmakers to speak in their native languages in the Danish Folketing. Although she distributed a Danish translation before speaking, Parliament Speaker Søren Gade insisted, "one cannot debate a speech...if the speech is not also delivered in Danish," urging her to comply.
The incident underscores Greenland's complicated relationship with Denmark, a former colonial ruler that continues to exert control over key areas like justice and defense. Greenland, a semi-autonomous region, has been pushing for greater independence, fueled by past grievances and a quest for self-determination. Høgh-Dam has demanded simultaneous interpretation occur; Gade noted that the Folketing isn't prepared for it, but additional funds are available for translation assistance.
Support for Høgh-Dam's stance extends to other Greenlandic politicians, such as Aaja Chemnitz from the Inuit Ataqatigiit party. Greenland, with its 57,000 residents, relies significantly on Danish financial support, which is projected to reach nearly $600 million in 2024. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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