The steel woman is back – but outside the engine room

We are in Qinngorput, where Aleqa Hammond and her dog Adanee have their home. Outside, tall Alaskan willows are swaying in the gusts of wind followed by rain.

“When the Self-Government was established on June 21, 2009, I planted these trees. Now they have grown very tall,” explains Aleqa.

Originally, the plan was to go for a walk and have a chat along the way, but Nuuk's stormy weather prevented that. Instead, the interview takes place at her home. When we meet Aleqa, she has been the chairwoman of Siumut for two days.

– I'm calm. I was calm before too, but of course nervous on the day itself, she says.

Listen to the full conversation with Aleqa Hammond in this podcast. Here she talks more about her political visions – and shares her views on Greenland's relationship with the USA and Denmark. The podcast is in Greenlandic.

Two days earlier, she stood in a conference room at Hotel Hans Egede and began her election speech with an apology to Siumut members.

– It's not just for the Siumuts. It's for everyone. I love my countrymen too, and it's appropriate to apologize in order to move forward.

We will return later to why she chose to apologize.

Lost his mother

In recent years – especially the last six months – Greenland has been the subject of increased international attention. This has led Aleqa to consider a political comeback, and many have encouraged her to run for Inatsisartut.

– Many people encouraged me to run for Inatsisartut.

But she did not run in the election on March 11. A year ago, Aleqa lost her mother – and that took time.

– I needed to process my grief and my loss. And when something like that happens, there are always a lot of practical tasks that need to be solved. I have spent the time taking care of myself, she says.

Now she feels ready to return.

– I have become strong again. As my mother said: "You are a woman of steel."

Outside the engine room

Leading up to Siumut's extraordinary national meeting, Aleqa Hammond received several calls to run for chairman.

– When so many people are behind you, you can't just pretend like nothing happened. With the political issues at stake, the timing is also very appropriate, she says.

Aleqa Hammond, now 59, is far from new to the role of chairperson of Siumut. She was first elected in 2009 and from 2013 also contested the position of chairperson of Naalakkersuisut. But the following year she resigned from both positions after it emerged that she had used 106,000 kroner of public funds for private purposes.

This time she is running outside the engine room – that is, without being a member of either Inatsisartut or Naalakkersuisut. Nevertheless, she won the presidential election over her competitor, Vivian Motzfeldt, with 23 votes to 19.

– The party is not divided. We were two very qualified candidates, and the vote numbers reflect that. I see it as a sign of strength – not division.

For the first time in Siumut's history, the presidential race was exclusively between women. And even more remarkable: Siumut now has a president who stands outside the parliamentary engine room. This could create uncertainty about the party's political line if there is no agreement between the president and Inatsisartut's party group.

Vivian Motzfeldt, Aleqa's opponent, is Minister of Foreign Affairs and Research – and could in theory be replaced by Aleqa herself. But she rejects this.

– We stand in the coalition, as we do now. Just because I have become chairman, it does not mean that everything has to change.

Cakes and conferences

You can clearly feel that baking is going on in Aleqa's home. The kitchen is large and well-utilized – and it has been for the six years she has been away from politics.

“I play in the kitchen, and I play with food,” she says with a smile.

She has baked a lot of cakes in her time as a freelancer.

– I don't know how many cakes I've baked. But it's a lot. I've baked cakes for confirmations, weddings, and other events. I bake when I have time.

She has also worked as a simultaneous interpreter at international conferences – and as a speaker.

– My tongue has been used extensively – and fortunately also in demand. I have had a good income from it.

She enjoys the freedom of being independent.

“Life is just wonderful!” Aleqa says enthusiastically.

“We can talk about something else!”

When it was revealed in 2014 that she had misused public funds, it sparked a massive demonstration in Nuuk. She has previously said that she feared for her life during that period. But that has not deterred her from returning.

– You have to be ready to receive harsh criticism. If you can't handle it, don't run. And if you're not used to it, you learn it quickly.

After massive criticism – including from her own party members – she resigned as chair of both Naalakkersuisut and Siumut. Nevertheless, she quickly returned and was elected to the Folketing in 2015.

However, it turned out that she had also used the Folketing's credit card for private purposes. The criticism was extensive, and in 2016 she was excluded from Siumut.

However, in 2021 she was reinstated in the party by then-chairman Erik Jensen.

When we touch on her past, Aleqa becomes noticeably quieter. She explains that this is the reason she chose to apologize in her election speech.

– Everyone knows that there has been a lot of focus on me as a person. It has been hard. When I say sorry, we get an opportunity to move forward.

But she doesn't want to elaborate.

– I don't need to mention that. People know what it is.

Aren't you also responsible for your actions?

– You as journalists can discuss this internally. I think we have moved on. We can talk about something else!

Can she become Greenland's leader again?

Whether there will be time for cake baking in the future is doubtful. Siumut is in the midst of a serious crisis and has experienced a large voter exodus in the recent elections. The task for Aleqa will be to rebuild the party and re-establish contact with the local branches, which feel neglected.

– This is perfect timing for the preparations for the next election. We look forward to getting started.

If no early elections are called, the next Inatsisartut elections will take place in 2029.

Can you become chairman of the Greenlandic Parliament again?

– That answer lies with the people. It is the voters who decide who they want as leader.

But she has no doubts about her own readiness.

– Anyone who runs must be ready for it, says Aleqa.