Faroese parliamentary election, 2008
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in the Faroe Islands
on 19 January 2008, the latest possible date. The Self-Government Party and the Centre Party
gained a seat each while the Social Democratic Party
lost a seat. The number of women went from three to seven. The leaders of the ruling parties will discuss a possible continuation of the current government before trying other possibilities.
It had been considered to amend the election law to hold the election two weeks later to pass a number of important bills before the election, but in the end the negotiations on this failed and the election was called on 2007-12-07. Prior to this election, the electoral system was changed in 2007 from a constituency-based d'Hondt
proportional representation
(with seven multi-member constituencies), which had some elements of mixed member proportional voting, to a nation-wide d'Hondt based proportional system to reduce disproportionality.
Prior to the election, the Social Democratic Party
formed a centrist unionist government with the People's Party
and the Union Party. After the elections, four days of negotiations saw a centre-left separatist government emerge; while the Social Democratic Party retained the PM's post, the strongly pro-independence Republic got the majority of ministerial posts (including the newly-created post of foreign minister). The Centre Party
also participated in the new government. Among the coalition agreement points was a plan to draft a constitution for the Faroe Islands, which would be approved in a referendum to be held in 2010
.
The coalition broke up in mid-2008, however, and a government consisting of the parties governing before the 2008 election was sworn in on 26 September 2008, with Kaj Leo Johannesen
as PM instead.
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
on 19 January 2008, the latest possible date. The Self-Government Party and the Centre Party
Centre Party (Faroe Islands)
The Centre Party is a Christianity-based, agrarian and conservative political party in the Faroe Islands, led by Jenis av Rana.At the 2008 parliamentary election, the party won 8.4% of the popular vote and 3 out of 33 seats...
gained a seat each while the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Faroe Islands)
The Social Democratic Party is a social-democratic, political party in the Faroe Islands, led by Jóannes Eidesgaard.At the legislative elections, 19 January 2008, the party won 19.3% of the popular vote and 6 out of 32 seats....
lost a seat. The number of women went from three to seven. The leaders of the ruling parties will discuss a possible continuation of the current government before trying other possibilities.
It had been considered to amend the election law to hold the election two weeks later to pass a number of important bills before the election, but in the end the negotiations on this failed and the election was called on 2007-12-07. Prior to this election, the electoral system was changed in 2007 from a constituency-based d'Hondt
D'Hondt
D'Hondt can refer to:*D'Hondt method, a method for allocating seats in party-list proportional representation political election systems*Victor D'Hondt , a Belgian lawyer, professor and mathematician...
proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
(with seven multi-member constituencies), which had some elements of mixed member proportional voting, to a nation-wide d'Hondt based proportional system to reduce disproportionality.
Prior to the election, the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Faroe Islands)
The Social Democratic Party is a social-democratic, political party in the Faroe Islands, led by Jóannes Eidesgaard.At the legislative elections, 19 January 2008, the party won 19.3% of the popular vote and 6 out of 32 seats....
formed a centrist unionist government with the People's Party
People's Party (Faroe Islands)
The Faroese People's Party – Radical Self-Government is a liberal conservative political party in the Faroe Islands, led by Jørgen Niclasen. One of the four major parties, it's had eight seats in the Løgting since the 2011 election, making it the joint-largest party, but neither of the Faroes'...
and the Union Party. After the elections, four days of negotiations saw a centre-left separatist government emerge; while the Social Democratic Party retained the PM's post, the strongly pro-independence Republic got the majority of ministerial posts (including the newly-created post of foreign minister). The Centre Party
Centre Party (Faroe Islands)
The Centre Party is a Christianity-based, agrarian and conservative political party in the Faroe Islands, led by Jenis av Rana.At the 2008 parliamentary election, the party won 8.4% of the popular vote and 3 out of 33 seats...
also participated in the new government. Among the coalition agreement points was a plan to draft a constitution for the Faroe Islands, which would be approved in a referendum to be held in 2010
Faroese constitutional referendum, 2010
A referendum on adopting a constitution that was drawn up after the 2008 elections was to be held in the Faroe Islands in 2010, as agreed upon in the coalition agreement between Republic, the Social Democratic Party and the Centre Party. However, the coalition has since ruptured and the coalition...
.
The coalition broke up in mid-2008, however, and a government consisting of the parties governing before the 2008 election was sworn in on 26 September 2008, with Kaj Leo Johannesen
Kaj Leo Johannesen
- Handball Player for Kyndil :Kaj Leo Johannesen is not only a former football player, he is also a former handball player. He played 163 matches for Kyndil and scored 625 goals for the club.- Extern Links :* , The Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands* * * *...
as PM instead.