Copenhagen/Nuuk, Greenland  - Judging by fresh opinion polls, Greenland Premier Hans Enoksen may well come to regret his recent decision to call for early elections.

A survey published less than a week before the vote on June 2 suggested a poor showing for Enoksen's Siumut party and its conservative allies Atassut. The two parties had just 38 per cent according to the poll by Ilisimatusarfik.

The leftist opposition party Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) meanwhile had doubled its support since 2005 to 44 per cent, the poll said, while the opposition Democrats, which draws support from Danish voters in Greenland, was also poised to gain votes.

Some 39,000 voters were eligible to vote.

Enoksen, elected as premier in December 2002, also faces a challenge within his own party from, among others, former finance minister Aleqa Hammond.

"The low support for Siumut's leader shows that people want a change," political researcher Pia Vedel Ankersen who conducted the poll among 451 voters told the Greenlandic AG newspaper.

Factors contributing to the drop for Siumut included media reports of misuse of public funds by ranking party members. AG has published documents indicating how taxpayers' money was used for private dinners and trips.

Enoksen called the elections in April saying voters should have a say over who should rule Greenland as it enters a new era with more autonomy within Denmark.

His Social Democratic party has dominated Greenlandic politics and credits itself as the driving force in introducing the home rule system. The island territory is on June 21 set to gain more autonomy within Denmark under an agreement that coincides with the 30th anniversary of the existing home rule bill.

The enhanced self-rule plan was approved in November 2008. It would give Greenland partial control over its natural resources and allow it to take greater charge of justice and legal affairs.

Under the terms agreed upon between the parliaments of Denmark and Greenland, Danish subsidies, known as the block grant are to remain.

IA leader Kuupik Kleist has said his party is prepared to take charge for the coming four years and has highlighted the need to tackle social problems ranging from alcohol abuse, many neglected children and a high suicide rate.

But opinion polls have earlier proved wrong in Greenland so it was too early to count out the Siumut party, Sten Lund of the public broadcaster KNR told the Copenhagen daily Politiken. (dpa)