Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen (born 8 November 1972) is a Faroese lawyer and politician for the Social Democratic Party (Javnaðarflokkurin) and the current prime minister of the Faroe Islands. He previously served as prime minister from 2015 to 2019.[1] He is a former footballer.
Aksel V. Johannesen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Aksel V. Johannesen in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 22 December 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarchs | Margrethe II Frederik X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Høgni Hoydal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Bárður á Steig Nielsen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 15 September 2015 – 16 September 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Margrethe II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Høgni Hoydal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Kaj Leo Johannesen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Bárður á Steig Nielsen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Social Democratic Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 5 March 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jóannes Eidesgaard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 6 April 2011 – 14 November 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Kaj Leo Johannesen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jacob Vestergaard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Annika Olsen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Finance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 21 February 2011 – 14 November 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Kaj Leo Johannesen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jóannes Eidesgaard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jørgen Niclasen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of Health | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 16 July 2009 – 21 February 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Kaj Leo Johannesen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Hans Pauli Strøm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Johannessen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of Parliament | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 29 October 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen 8 November 1972 Klaksvík, Faroe Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Social Democratic Party (Javnaðarflokkurin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Katrin Apol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent(s) | Johild and Vilhelm Johannesen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Political career
editAt the 2008 Faroese general election, Aksel Johannesen was the party's 1st suppleant to the Løgting (Faroese Parliament), and sometimes he took seat in the parliament, especially for Andrias Petersen. He became minister of health on 16 July 2009, when John Johannessen declined the minister position after Hans Pauli Strøm stepped down. He resigned as minister of health and was assigned as minister of finance on 21 February and was at the same time elected president of the Social Democratic Party (Javnaðarflokkurin) on 5 March 2011.[2] On 6 April the same year, he was appointed as deputy prime minister.[3] On 14 November 2011, the cabinet was renewed and the Social Democratic Party was not a part of the new cabinet. Aksel Johannesen then became chairman of the Social Democratic Party on the Løgting.
At the Faroese general election on 1 September 2015, Johannesen's party won the election with 25.1% of the votes and he became prime minister. Johannesen himself got 2405 personal votes which was a new Faroese record. He broke the record of Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen from 2011 which was 1967 personal votes.[4] Voted out of power in 2019, he returned to power in the 2022 Faroese general election.[5]
Football career
editJohannesen played football with his hometown club KÍ Klaksvík, mostly as a forward. Although not always an automatic choice for the starting XI, he made his contribution, as KÍ won the Faroese League in 1991 and the national cup in 1994 (Johannesen came in as a substitute in 2-1 final victory against B71 Sandur).
Johannesen is also a noted runner, and was the national 100 meter champion in 1994. He also played volleyball for Mjølnir, the club of Klaksvík.[6]
Personal life
editHe is educated Master of Law from the University of Copenhagen in 2004, and worked as a lawyer in Tórshavn from 2007 until he became an active politician. He is former president of the football club of Klaksvík, Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag, where he used to play football in his youth. He is married to Katrin Apol, with whom he has three children.
Johannesen is the son of former politician Vilhelm Johannesen[7] and uncle of Beinir Johannesen, chairman of the People's Party.
References
edit- ^ Rana, Hallur av (15 September 2015). "Hetta er nýggja landsstýrið" (in Faroese). in.fo. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ "j.fo, From the history of the Social Democratic Party of the Faroe Islands". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
- ^ ft.dk
- ^ Samuelsen, Ingi (September 2, 2015). "Aksel breaks all records". Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via www.portal.fo.
- ^ Samuelsen, Ingi (22 December 2022). "Hesi manna nýggja landsstýrið". portal.fo. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ kvf.fo - Dagur og vika 14. September 2015
- ^ "Logting.fo, Aksel V. Johannesen". Archived from the original on 2015-10-20. Retrieved 2014-02-06.