Politics of the Faroe Islands

Country name:\n
conventional long form:\nnone\n
conventional short form:\nFaroe Islands\n
local long form:\nnone\n
local short form:\nFøroyar\n

Data code:\nFO\n

Dependency status:\npart of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948\n

Government type:\nNA\n

Capital:\nTorshavn\n

Administrative divisions:\nnone (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)\n

Independence:\nnone (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)\n

National holiday:\nBirthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)\n

Constitution:\n5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)\n

Legal system:\nDanish\n

Suffrage:\n18 years of age; universal\n

Executive branch:\n
chief of state:\nQueen Margaret II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA)\n
head of government:\nPrime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May 1998)\n
cabinet:\nLandsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament\n
elections:\nthe monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)\n
election results:\nAnfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA\n

Legislative branch:\nunicameral Faroese Parliament or Løgting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)\n
elections:\nsee: Elections in the Faroe Islands\n
election results:\npercent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 18%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Coalition Party 6, other parties 3\n
note:\nelection of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1\n

Judicial branch:\nnone\n

Political parties and leaders:

\nSee: List of political parties in the Faroe Islands\n

\n
• Center Party (Miðflokkurin) [Tordur NICLASEN]\n
• Christian People's Party (Fólkaflokkurin) [Niels Pauli DANIELSEN]\n
• Home Rule Party (Sjálvstýrisflokkurin) [Helena Dam A. NEYSTABO]\n
• Labor Front [leader NA]\n
• People's Party (Fólkaflokkurin) [Oli BRECKMANN]\n
• Republican Party (Tjóðveldisflokkurin) [Finnbogi ISAKSON]\n
• Social Democratic Party (Føroya Javnaðarflokkur) [Joannes EIDESGAARD]\n
• The Faroese Party [Olavur CHRISTIANSEN]\n
• Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) [Edmund JOENSEN]\n

\n

International organization participation:\nNC, NIB\n

Diplomatic representation in the US:\nnone (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)\n

Diplomatic representation from the US:\nnone (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)\n

Flag description:\nwhite with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)