He became Minister for Fisheries, Hunting and Settlements and chairman of the political party Siumut in 2001.

After his election he began an alliance with left wing party Inuit Ataqatigiit.

The two parties began discussing how to change the agreement with Denmark and the U.S. about how much Greenland should receive in compensation for the U.S. airbase situated outside the town of Thule, in the north of the country.

In the 2009 election, the IA beat him with 43% of the vote compared to Enoksen's party's 26%.

After the 2009 defeat, Hans Enoksen retired as leader of Siumut.