Faroe Islands Elections Today

[Bono]

Present parliament is:

Sambandsflokkurin (SF) Union Party, (agrarian-) liberal 7 seats (23.7% of votes)

Javnaðarflokkurin (JF) Social Democratic Party, social-dem. 7 seats (21.8%)

Tjóðveldisflokkurin (TF) Republican Party, (separatist-) socialist 8 seats (21.7%)

Fólkaflokkurin (FF) People's Party, (separatist-) conserv. 7 seats (20,6%)

Miðflokkurin (MF) Centre Party, christian-dem. 2 seats (5.2%)

Sjálvstýrisflokkurin (SSF) Self-Government Party, (social-) liberal 1 seats (4.6%)

Government is a coalition of JF, SF and FF, with JF leading.


Anyone got polls or info (Jens?)?

I support FF, obviously.

[minionofmidas]

Miðflokkurin (MF) Centre Party, christian-dem. 2 seats (5.2%)

Evangelical Christian Communists would be more accurate a description.

[afleitch]

I do hope my northern friends turn out in great numbers

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I do hope my northern friends turn out in great numbers

All 29 of them

[Hash]

2008:

Tjóðveldisflokkurin (TF) 23.3%, 8 seats
Sambandsflokkurin (SF) 21.0%, 7 seats
Fólkaflokkurin (FF) 20.1%, 7 seats
Javnaðarflokkurin (JF) 19.4%, 6 seats
Miðflokkurin (MF) 8.4%, 3 seats
Sjálvstýrisflokkurin (SSF) 7.2%, 2 seats

[merseysider]

I don't know much (well, I don't know anything) about Faeroese politics, but it does amaze me that such a small and homogenous population can be so politically fragmented.

[Jens]

I don't know much (well, I don't know anything) about Faeroese politics, but it does amaze me that such a small and homogenous population can be so politically fragmented.

Not that strange. The question about independence has been a hotspot since forever. The conflict between city dwellers in Thorshavn (the capital) and the fishermen on the rough windy outer islands is also a classic.
Many has studied in Denmark and now work in Thorhavn and many has family in Denmark (45.000 lives in the islands, 25.000 has migrated to Denmark).
Klaksvig (2nd largest city) hates people from Thorshavn (and the Danes) and a large part of the fishermen er very religious (homosexuality is still frowned upon even in parliament - many gay people migrate to Denmark)

Remember. long hard winters gives you plenty of time to think about things

[Meeker]

There was a question in Knowledge Bowl the other day and the answer was Faroe Islands. I read the Wikipedia article about them many months ago and thought "Hmm, I bet someday there'll be a Knowledge Bowl question about these". Unfortunately I answered they were owned by Norway but quickly realized my mistake (and once I realized the reader had said Faroe and not Pharaoh).

[JSojourner]

I am completely ignorant in such matters.

Is there any substantive effort aimed at Independence for the Faroes, or for Greenland?

How would that go over in Copenhagen, Washington and in the rest of Europe?

[afleitch]

I am completely ignorant in such matters.

Is there any substantive effort aimed at Independence for the Faroes, or for Greenland?

How would that go over in Copenhagen, Washington and in the rest of Europe?

Yes and no. It's idealistic more than practical, however to be honest very small independent states that hold membership of the EU and NATO would be viable, and sheltered political units in the world. Theres no harm in becoming, in the case of the Faroes a tax haven.

On a further note, with climate change and a less inhospitable Arctic, the Faroes (like the Shetland Isles below then) have strong shipping potential in the near future. The possibility of the fabled North West Passage becoming a reality (with the right ships) is not too far fetched. Not to mention some untouches oil and gas reserves.

[Jens]

It looks like the Social Democrats, the Republicans and the Centre Party will form a new government. Certainly a more leftwing one, that is.

[Bono]

It looks like the Social Democrats, the Republicans and the Centre Party will form a new government. Certainly a more leftwing one, that is.

Is this a sign that the separatist-unionist divine is losing importance?

[Jens]

It looks like the Social Democrats, the Republicans and the Centre Party will form a new government. Certainly a more leftwing one, that is.

Is this a sign that the separatist-unionist divine is losing importance?

Yes and no. More a sign that the hardcore independence parties has dropped the demand for instant independence. Most parties are dedicated to the process of transferring more responsibility to the Faeroe government, but direct independence is not on the table right now