The Faroe Islands have a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.
There are two major ideological cleavages in Faroese politics. In addition to the left-right spectrum, parties are also divided between those that want to maintain the Faroes' place within the Danish Realm ('unionists') and those that want Faroese independence ('separatists').
The current government is formed by a coalition between the centre-left Social Democratic Party, the left-wing Republic, and the centre-right Progress.
Political parties with elected representation at a national level
editThere are currently six parties represented in the Løgting. The largest party represents centre-left unionism with nine seats, while the second-largest party represents centre-right unionism with seven seats. The next two – each with six seats – represent centre-right separatism and left-wing separatism. There are also two minor parties in the Løgting, representing centre-right and right-wing separatism. The centrist Self-Government party lacks any representation in the Løgting
Election Symbol |
Party | MPs | Ideology | Leader | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Løgting (Faroese Parliament) |
Folketing (Danish Parliament) | |||||
SP | Union Party Sambandsflokkurin Also rendered as the Unionist Party |
7 | 1 | Centre-right – conservative liberal and Nordic agrarian. In favour of union with Denmark. | Bárður Nielsen | |
A | People's Party Fólkaflokkurin |
6 | 0 | Centre-right – conservative and socially conservative. In favour of Faroese independence. | Beinir Johannesen | |
JF | Social Democratic Party Javnaðarflokkurin Also rendered as the Equality Party |
9 | 1 | Centre-left – social democratic. In favour of union with Denmark. | Aksel V. Johannesen | |
E | Republic Tjóðveldi Also rendered as the Party for People's Government |
6 | 0 | Left-wing – democratic socialist. In favour of Faroese independence. | Høgni Hoydal | |
F | Progress Framsókn |
3 | 0 | Centre-right – classical liberal. In favour of Faroese independence. | Ruth Vang | |
H | Centre Party Miðflokkurin |
2 | 0 | Right-wing – Christian democratic, conservative and anti-LGBT. In favour of Faroese independence. | Jenis av Rana | |
D | Self-Government Party Sjálvstýrisflokkurin Also rendered as the Home Rule Party or Independence Party |
0 | 0 | Centre – social liberal. In favour of gradual Faroese independence. | Sámal Petur |
Defunct parties
edit- Advancement for the Islands (Marxist–Leninist) (Oyggjaframi (marx-leninistar))
- Business Party (Vinnuflokkurin)
- Faroese Communist Party (Kommunistiski flokkur Føroya)
- Christian People's Party (Kristiligi fólkaflokkurin), formerly known as the Progress Party (Framburðsflokkurin)
- Faroese Socialists (Føroyskir Sosialistar)
- Faroese Party (Hin føroyski flokkurin)
- Freedom Union (Frælsisfylkingin)
- Funny Party (Hin stuttligi flokkurin)
- Progress Party (Framsóknarflokkurin)
- The Red 1 May Group
- Separatist Party (Loysingarflokkurin)
- Social Separatist Party (Sosialistiski loysingarflokkurin)
- Worker's Union (Verkamannafylkingin)