Political Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The islands obtained home rule in 1948, and the islands have their own Parliament with 33 members, who are elected every fourth year. The Parliament which is called Løgtingið is sovereign on Faroese territory, while issues such as foreign policies and security policies are decided by the Danish government. The Faroe Islands are not member of European Union.

Currently the Faroe Islands have 6 political parties represented at The Parliament, Løgtingið. They are: The Unionist Party, Sambandsflokkurin, The Independence Party, Sjálvstýrisflokkurin, The Social Democratic Party, Javnaðarflokkurin, The Conservative Party, Fólkaflokkurin, The Republican Party, Tjóðveldisflokkurin and The Centre Party, Miðflokkurin

In addition to the traditional political issues of liberalism versus socialism the political landscape on The Faroe Islands is further characterised by the schism between the political aim of independency as opposed to union with Danmark. This extra political dimension increases the combination of matters possible to cooperate on and, accordingly, gives rise to some very different and flexible coalitions between the Faroese parties

Like Greenland, The Faroe Islands elect two members to Folketinget, the Danish Parliament. Traditionally these members have joined the groups of their Danish sister parties, but in the last years the republicans have owned one seat, and they have formed a group together with the mandates from Greenland. The group is called The North Atlantic Group.

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