The right-leaning Fólkaflokkurin (People’s Party) became the big winner of Thursday’s early general election, taking almost 27 percent of the vote to turn into the largest political party represented in the Løgting, the Faroese parliament. Claiming nine out of the 33 seats in the Løgting, the party gained three seats, and just under 8 percentage points, on the 2022 election.
As opinion polls had predicted a major win for the People’s Party, the election outcome came as no surprise to observers. The party is led by 29-year old Beinir Johannesen, a nephew of outgoing Prime Minister Aksel V. Johannesen of the Javnaðarflokkurin (Social Democratic Party), who lost nearly 8 percent of their voter base, shrinking from nine to six seats in the Løgting.
The outgoing Prime Minister is set to announce his resignation on Saturday, having failed to reestablish a government coalition, according to news reports.
Sambandsflokkurin (Unionist Party) retained their seven seats, whereas Tjóðveldi (Republican Party) likewise held their six seats. Framsókn (Progress) slid from three seats to two, while the Miðflokkurin (Center Party) kept its two seats.
Sjálvstýri, (Independence Party), which earned no parliamentary seat in the 2022 general election, reclaimed one seat in yesterday’s election.
Meanwhile, the young Mr. Johannesen, widely considered a favorite candidate for Prime Minister, is expected to lead negotiations on the formation of a new government coalition.
In other political news, on Tuesday, a general election took place in Denmark, with two Danish parliamentary seats decided by voters in the Faroe Islands. Sjúrður Skaale, representing the Social Democratic Party, and Anna Falkenberg, representing the Unionist Party, were both reelected, with Mr. Skaale receiving a record-breaking 10,823 votes.
