Several Faroese political parties say they want to abolish the two seats the islands hold in Denmark’s parliament, even as they campaign to fill those very positions in tomorrow’s election. The push reflects growing momentum for independence negotiations, though critics argue the seats remain vital for dialogue within the kingdom.
The Push to End Parliamentary Representation
Multiple Faroese parties told DR that they support abolishing or reconsidering the two North Atlantic seats in Denmark’s Folketing. The timing is striking. Tomorrow, Faroese voters will elect representatives to fill those exact positions, creating what some call a democratic contradiction.
Independence Talks Drive the Debate
In 2025, a majority of Faroese parties agreed to begin negotiations with Copenhagen about establishing an independent Faroese state. That agreement now anchors arguments for ending parliamentary representation. Party leaders frame the seats as incompatible with the sovereignty they seek.
Beinir Johannesen, leader of Fólkaflokkurin, told DR his party wants to abolish the mandates in the short or long term. He acknowledged the apparent contradiction of campaigning for a position he wants to eliminate. However, he argued that having representatives in Copenhagen could actually speed up independence negotiations.
Not Just the Independence Wing
Hans Andrias Sølvará, a professor at the University of the Faroe Islands, noted a significant shift in the debate. Previously, only parties on the independence wing of Faroese politics called for abolishing the seats. Now, the position has spread across the political spectrum.
The professor explained that the Faroe Islands have gradually taken control of most policy areas over recent decades. Very few areas remain under Danish legislation. As a result, many politicians believe the two parliamentary seats no longer serve a meaningful purpose. He also pointed to a structural imbalance. Faroese members of parliament gain access to confidential information through the Foreign Policy Committee, while the Faroese self-government does not.
Different Views on Democratic Legitimacy
The arguments for and against the seats reflect fundamentally different visions of how the kingdom should function. Some see representation as essential for mutual understanding. Others view it as an outdated colonial remnant.
Questions About Voter Connection
Sjúrður Skaale, the current member of parliament from the Social Democratic party Javnaðarflokkurin, wrote in Weekendavisen that he believes future arrangements should not include Faroese seats in the Folketing. He told DR that his legitimacy is already questionable. His voters live in the Faroe Islands and pay no taxes in Denmark. If Danish voters disapprove of the burdens he imposes through legislation, they have no mechanism to remove him from office.
Johannis Erlendsson from the independence-oriented party Tjóðveldi wants to be the last Faroese member of parliament. He argued that Faroese representation in what he called the Danish people’s parliament is fundamentally wrong. The possibility that Faroese votes could determine who becomes Denmark’s prime minister strikes him as undemocratic.
The Case for Keeping Representation
Anna Falkenberg, the current member of parliament from Sambandsflokkurin, said her party remains the only one committed to preserving Faroese seats in the Folketing. She found it odd that candidates would campaign for positions they want to eliminate. Denmark continues to make decisions that affect the Faroe Islands, she noted. Being part of the kingdom means having a voice in those decisions.
Steffan Klein Poulsen from the centrist religious party Midflokkurin took a middle position. His party believes representation makes sense as long as the Faroe Islands remain part of the kingdom. At the same time, they support updating the framework of the relationship.
What the Seats Actually Control
The North Atlantic mandates consist of four seats in Denmark’s 179-member parliament. Two come from the Faroe Islands and two from Greenland. Each functions as a separate electoral district. The representatives hold full voting rights equal to any other member of parliament.
Historical Significance of the Votes
Despite their small number, these seats can prove decisive in close elections. In 1998, a single Faroese vote played a crucial role in determining the election outcome. More recently, political observers have noted that North Atlantic votes could tip the balance in government formation negotiations.
The seats have existed since 1851, when the Faroe Islands first gained representation in Denmark’s parliament. Direct elections began in 1903. This long history reflects the islands’ gradual integration into the Danish state system following centuries under Norwegian-Danish rule.
Areas Still Under Danish Control
The Faroe Islands have taken over most domestic policy areas from Denmark over the decades. They control taxation, healthcare, social services, education, culture, church affairs, infrastructure, and much of the civil administration. However, some significant areas remain under Danish jurisdiction. These include foreign policy, police, and the judicial system.
The block grant from Denmark has been reduced in recent years. It stood at 641.8 million kroner until 2022, then decreased by 25 million kroner annually. In 2026, it amounts to 541.8 million kroner. Many independence supporters link the elimination of parliamentary seats to the eventual end of this subsidy.
Election Dynamics and Timing
The Faroe Islands face two elections this week, creating an unusual political moment. Tomorrow brings the parliamentary election in Denmark. Two days later, on March 26, voters return to choose their own legislature, the Løgting.
Separate Campaigns for Different Offices
Faroese voters treat these as distinct elections, often supporting different parties for each. Elin Mirjamsdóttir, a journalist at the Faroese public service broadcaster KVF, noted that the Folketing campaign receives little attention compared to the Løgting race. Five parties are competing for the two Danish parliamentary seats.
Recent polling shows a mismatch between the two elections. For the Folketing vote, Javnaðarflokkurin leads with 38 percent support, followed by Sambandsflokkurin at 28 percent. However, for the Løgting election, the conservative Fólkaflokkurin tops the polls at 29 percent, ahead of Sambandsflokkurin at 19.8 percent and Javnaðarflokkurin at 18.8 percent.
A Test for Independence Momentum
Political analysts see these elections as a referendum on the future relationship with Denmark. The timing amplifies the significance. A strong showing by pro-independence parties could accelerate negotiations with Copenhagen. Conversely, support for unionist parties might slow the momentum.
The Løgting election follows political instability. Lagmand Aksel V. Johannesen called the vote after his government lost confidence, immediately after passing a major tunnel project. The circumstances point to internal divisions that could shape how aggressively the Faroe Islands pursue sovereignty talks.
Danish Responses and Legal Framework
The Danish side has pushed back against calls to eliminate the North Atlantic seats. Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen publicly criticized the independence debate, calling proposals to abolish representation unwise.
Constitutional Requirements for Change
Eliminating the seats would require significant legal changes. Denmark’s constitution applies to the entire kingdom, including the Faroe Islands. It specifies that 179 members serve in the Folketing, with two elected from the Faroe Islands. Changing this arrangement would require a constitutional amendment.
Such amendments need either a five-sixths majority in parliament or approval through a national referendum. If the change involves transferring sovereignty, a referendum becomes mandatory under Article 20 of the constitution. No recent statements from Danish political leaders suggest any appetite for initiating this process.
Arguments for Maintaining Unity
Danish critics of abolition emphasize the seats’ role in fostering mutual understanding. They describe the Folketing as a forum where all parts of the kingdom can communicate. Some experts argue that the Faroe Islands could achieve greater autonomy without giving up representation.
Lise Lyck, a Danish researcher, has suggested that the Faroe Islands might obtain irreversible self-government recognized by the United Nations while keeping their parliamentary seats. This would separate the question of autonomy from representation.
Broader Context in the Kingdom
Greenland has experienced similar debates about its two seats in the Folketing. The parallel discussions suggest a wider reconsideration of how the kingdom functions.
Historical Precedents and Failed Attempts
The Faroe Islands held a referendum on independence in 1946. The result was extremely close, with 5,660 votes for separation and 5,499 for remaining part of Denmark. The narrow defeat for independence led to the preservation of parliamentary representation as part of a compromise.
Since then, the islands have steadily expanded their self-government. The current debate represents the most serious push for full sovereignty in decades. Multiple parties now support beginning formal negotiations with Copenhagen about a new relationship.
European Union Considerations
The Faroe Islands negotiated to stay outside the European Union when Denmark joined in 1973. This arrangement allowed them to maintain control over fisheries, their economic lifeblood. Denmark’s EU membership continues to create complications for Faroese autonomy.
Foreign policy remains a Danish responsibility, limiting how the Faroe Islands can negotiate trade agreements or international partnerships. Independence supporters see full sovereignty as the only way to gain complete control over these crucial areas.
A Personal Take
I find myself torn on this issue. The democratic argument against the seats carries real weight. It does seem strange that voters who pay no Danish taxes can influence who governs Denmark. If I were a Danish voter, I might feel frustrated knowing that my government’s survival could depend on representatives from territories that function almost independently already. The legitimacy concern is not trivial.
At the same time, I worry about what gets lost when formal ties are cut. The seats create regular contact between Faroese and Danish politicians. They force both sides to explain themselves to each other. That friction can be valuable. History shows how easily distance turns into misunderstanding.
