2015 Faroese general election

General elections were held in the Faroe Islands on 1 September 2015.[1] Elections for the Danish Folketing were held beforehand on 18 June.

2015 Faroese general election
Faroe Islands
← 2011 1 September 2015 2019 →
Turnout88.8%
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
Social Democratic Aksel V. Johannesen 25.1% 8 +2
Republic Høgni Hoydal 20.7% 7 +1
People's Jørgen Niclasen 18.9% 6 −2
Union Kaj Leo Johannesen 18.7% 6 −2
Progress Poul Michelsen 7.0% 2 0
Centre Jenis av Rana 5.5% 2 0
Self-Government Jógvan Skorheim 4.1% 2 +1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister
Kaj Leo Johannesen
Union
Aksel V. Johannesen
Social Democratic

Background

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On 4 August 2015 the Løgting passed a motion that criticized Prime Minister Kaj Leo Johannesen and former Minister of the Interior Kári P. Højgaard,[2] accusing Johannesen of lying to the Løgting in connection with a 1 million kroner break fee clause in the contract led by the Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to build a sub-sea tunnel between Eysturoy and Streymoy.

Although Kaj Leo Johannesen had previously told the Løgting that he had no part of the break fee, a judicial inquiry led by Hans Gammeltoft-Hansen (the Danish ombudsman from 1987 until 2012) confirmed in June 2015 that Kaj Leo Johannesen had knowingly misled the Løgting on several occasions,[3] thereby breaking the law.[4][5] For some time not much happened, the Prime Minister refused to take any action but went on holiday for a month. The speaker of the Løgting refused to assemble parliament, which had no scheduled meeting before 29 July 2015.

On 29 July Kaj Leo Johannesen gave his annual Ólavsøka speech to the Løgting, ending it by calling general elections. A week later on 4 August, the Løgting assembled to discuss the Johannesen's speech, as the law requires. All 33 members of the Løgting voted yes, including Højgaard. Republic and Progress then demanded a vote of no confidence in Kaj Leo Johannesen, in which 14 MPs voted for the motion, 9 against it and 10 cast blank votes, short of the majority of 17 required to pass the motion. Only 9 of 20 MPs from Kaj Leo Johannesen's coalition chose to back him and voted against the motion,[6] including six from his own party, the Speaker Jógvan á Lakjuni from the People's Party and the two MPs from the Centre Party. However, three Union Party MPs cast blank votes, including Deputy Chairman Bárður Nielsen, whilst People's Party chairman Jákup Mikkelsen voted for the motion.

Kaj Leo Johannesen maintains that he did not lie, but only gave incorrect information to the Løgting.[7]

Electoral system

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The 33 members of the Løgting were elected by open list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency with an electoral threshold of 133 of votes (~3.03%). Seats were allocated using the d'Hondt method.[8]

Opinion polls

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Hustings in Trongisvágur on 25 August 2015; from left to right: Kári P. Højgaard (D), Jákup Suni Lauritsen (H), Kristin Michelsen (C), Páll á Reynatúgvu (E), Elsebeth Mercedis Gunnleygsdóttur (A), Hanna Jensen (F) and Magni Laksáfoss (B).

The ruling centre-right coalition led by Johannesen was consistently behind in the polls, while the Social Democrats led by Aksel Johannesen were well ahead. However, polls closer to election day showed a tightening race.

Vote

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Date Source PP UP SP NS R P CP
31 August 2015 Gallup 18.2% 19.0% 22.9% 3.1% 19.4% 10.6% 6.8%
31 August 2015 Fynd 20.4% 19.2% 19.3% 5.9% 16.5% 11.2% 7.4%
28 August 2015 Fynd Archived 2015-08-30 at the Wayback Machine 20.8% 19.6% 21.3% 4.9% 18.0% 8.7% 6.7%
20 August 2015 Fynd 18.3% 21.1% 21.3% 4.2% 17.6% 11.7% 5.9%
6 August 2015 Fynd 18.6% 19.0% 23.0% 2.9% 20.2% 11.6% 4.7%
22 April 2015 Fynd 16.2% 19.7% 25.8% 4.3% 18.2% 11.0% 4.8%
6 March 2015 Fynd 18.9% 18.1% 26.5% 3.1% 21.3% 6.1% 5.8%
5 December 2014 Gallup 18.9% 17.4% 28.3% 3.2% 21.3% 5.4% 5.5%
6 November 2014 Fynd 20.1% 22.4% 25.8% 2.4% 21.1% 3.3% 4.8%
5–11 September 2013 Gallup 17.2% 22.1% 21.7% 4.5% 23.6% 5.7% 5.2%
2011 election results 22.5% 24.7% 17.7% 4.2% 18.3% 6.3% 6.2%

Seats

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Date Source PP UP SP NS R P CP
31 August 2015 Gallup 6 6 8 1 6 4 2
31 August 2015 Fynd 7 6 6 2 5 4 3
28 August 2015 Fynd Archived 2015-08-30 at the Wayback Machine 7 6 7 2 6 3 2
20 August 2015 Fynd 6 7 7 1 6 4 2
6 August 2015 Fynd 6 6 8 0 7 4 2
20–21 April 2015 Fynd 5 6 9 1 6 4 2
6 March 2015 Fynd 6 6 9 1 7 2 2
5 December 2014 Gallup 6 6 9 1 7 2 2
6 November 2014 Fynd 7 7 9 0 7 1 2
5–11 September 2013 Gallup 6 7 7 1 8 2 2
2011 election results 8 8 6 1 6 2 2

Results

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The opposition parties made a major comeback from the 2011 elections, with the Social Democratic Party and Republic gaining two and one seats respectively. Progress regained its second seat, which it lost in 2011 when Janus Rein left the party. Despite a small reduction in their vote share, New Self-Government gained one seat.

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Social Democratic Party8,09325.098+2
Republic6,69120.747+1
People's Party6,10218.926–2
Union Party6,04618.746–2
Progress2,2416.9520
Centre Party1,7795.5220
Self-Government1,3054.052+1
Total32,257100.00330
Valid votes32,25799.64
Invalid/blank votes1170.36
Total votes32,374100.00
Registered voters/turnout36,45888.80
Source: KVF

Of the 117 void votes, 76 were blank and 41 invalid.[9]

By region and polling district

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Towns and settlements on the Faroes, the polling places Fossanes and Giljanes are schools and therefore not on the map.

There were 58 polling districts (down from 60 in 2011), of which 56 were towns and two (Giljanes and Fossanes) were schools. Giljanes was one of the two polling places on the western island of Vágar, while Fossanes is located on the Norðoyar. There were two polling places in the capital area; Tórshavn, which includes the suburbs of Hvítanes and Hoyvík, and the southern suburb Argir. The Vágar region includes the neighbouring island Mykines and the Sandoy region includes Skúvoy, while the rest of Streymoy includes the polling places on the islets Nólsoy and Hestur.

Area People's Party Union Party Social Democratic Party New Self-Government Republic Progress Centre Party
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
National 6,102 18.9 6,046 18.7 8,093 25.1 1,305 4.1 6,691 20.7 2,241 7.0 1,779 5.5
Capital Area 1,655 13.5 1,769 14.4 3,322 27.0 248 2.0 3,179 25.8 1,451 11.8 678 5.5
Rest of Streymoy 338 15.8 372 17.3 591 27.6 65 3.0 490 22.8 192 9.0 97 4.5
Eysturoy 1,462 18.5 2,147 27.2 1,461 18.5 581 7.4 1,305 16.5 403 5.1 537 6.8
Klaksvík 1,040 32.4 499 15.6 705 22.0 276 8.6 456 14.2 66 2.1 166 5.2
Rest of Norðoyar 285 38.2 93 12.4 135 18.1 43 5.8 114 15.3 22 2.9 55 7.4
Suðuroy 566 18.1 480 15.4 1,335 42.7 29 0.9 574 18.4 26 0.8 116 3.7
Vágar 521 26.6 460 23.5 440 22.5 56 2.9 317 16.2 63 3.2 102 5.2
Sandoy 235 26.9 226 25.9 104 11.9 7 0.8 256 29.3 18 2.1 28 3.2
Argir 195 14.6 207 15.5 366 27.5 26 2.0 306 23.0 153 11.5 80 6.0
Árnafjørður 15 41.7 4 11.1 2 5.6 1 2.8 10 27.8 0 0.0 4 11.1
Dalur 3 11.1 2 7.4 20 74.1 0 0.0 2 7.4 0 0.0 0 0.0
Eiði 73 16.2 86 19.1 80 17.8 22 4.9 129 28.7 25 5.6 35 7.8
Elduvík 3 23.1 3 23.1 6 46.2 0 0.0 1 7.7 0 0.0 0 0.0
Fámjin 8 10.7 19 25.3 29 38.7 0 0.0 19 25.3 0 0.0 0 0.0
Fossanes 91 35.4 37 14.4 48 18.7 10 3.9 38 14.8 3 1.2 30 11.7
Fuglafjørður 211 21.4 220 22.3 260 26.3 18 1.8 204 20.7 45 4.6 29 2.9
Funningsfjørður 9 20.5 2 4.5 9 20.5 2 4.5 12 27.3 5 11.4 5 11.4
Funningur 7 16.7 6 14.3 10 23.8 7 16.7 7 16.7 3 7.1 2 4.8
Giljanes 328 25.9 291 23.0 280 22.2 42 3.3 220 17.4 42 3.3 61 4.8
Gjógv 8 29.6 6 22.2 2 7.4 0 0.0 8 29.6 0 0.0 3 11.1
Gøta 213 28.9 124 16.8 136 18.5 43 5.8 117 15.9 63 8.5 41 5.6
Haldórsvík 7 5.6 19 15.2 56 44.8 12 9.6 13 10.4 15 12.0 3 2.4
Haraldssund 7 15.9 5 11.4 7 15.9 2 4.5 18 40.9 5 11.4 0 0.0
Hattarvík 6 50.0 0 0.0 2 16.7 1 8.3 3 25.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
Hellurnar 0 0.0 4 30.8 5 38.5 1 7.7 3 23.1 0 0.0 0 0.0
Hestur 1 6.7 3 20.0 6 40.0 0 0.0 4 26.7 0 0.0 1 6.7
Hósvík 21 10.1 38 18.4 67 32.4 8 3.9 39 18.8 21 10.1 13 6.3
Hov 8 11.3 14 19.7 38 53.5 2 2.8 7 9.9 1 1.4 1 1.4
Húsar 1 2.9 10 29.4 14 41.2 1 2.9 4 11.8 4 11.8 0 0.0
Húsavík 33 55.0 13 21.7 5 8.3 0 0.0 7 11.7 2 3.3 0 0.0
Hvalba 145 34.4 76 18.1 122 29.0 3 0.7 53 12.6 4 1.0 18 4.3
Hvalvík 65 21.2 72 23.5 75 24.5 9 2.9 48 15.7 20 6.5 17 5.6
Kaldbak 42 27.1 13 8.4 21 13.5 9 5.8 41 26.5 11 7.1 18 11.6
Kirkja 4 17.4 6 26.1 1 4.3 10 43.5 1 4.3 0 0.0 1 4.3
Kollafjørður 132 21.7 111 18.2 168 27.6 11 1.8 122 20.0 41 6.7 24 3.9
Kunoy 3 6.4 4 8.5 17 36.2 5 10.6 15 31.9 1 2.1 2 4.3
Kvívík 31 8.9 76 21.8 103 29.5 10 2.9 87 24.9 34 9.7 8 2.3
Leirvík 125 22.4 110 19.7 120 21.5 19 3.4 110 19.7 37 6.6 37 6.6
Lopra 21 29.6 7 9.9 19 26.8 0 0.0 15 21.1 1 1.4 8 11.3
Mikladalur 11 34.4 0 0.0 4 12.5 2 6.3 12 37.5 1 3.1 2 6.3
Mykines 2 18.2 4 36.4 1 9.1 1 9.1 3 27.3 0 0.0 0 0.0
Nólsoy 19 13.6 14 10.0 39 27.9 1 0.7 38 27.1 23 16.4 6 4.3
Oyndarfjørður 12 11.4 28 26.7 23 21.9 8 7.6 21 20.0 8 7.6 5 4.8
Oyrarbakki 42 11.5 126 34.6 91 25.0 16 4.4 56 15.4 29 8.0 4 1.1
Porkeri 43 19.6 28 12.8 101 46.1 2 0.9 22 10.0 1 0.5 22 10.0
Runavík 355 19.5 528 29.1 215 11.8 306 16.9 159 8.8 58 3.2 195 10.7
Sandur 146 40.1 29 8.0 33 9.1 2 0.5 143 39.3 6 1.6 5 1.4
Sandvík 12 18.2 8 12.1 26 39.4 1 1.5 17 25.8 2 3.0 0 0.0
Skálabotnur 3 4.6 7 10.8 14 21.5 1 1.5 29 44.6 1 1.5 10 15.4
Skálavík 21 22.3 22 23.4 20 21.3 1 1.1 27 28.7 2 2.1 1 1.1
Skáli 58 13.5 119 27.7 104 24.2 36 8.4 64 14.9 15 3.5 34 7.9
Skopun 28 9.5 146 49.3 24 8.1 3 1.0 67 22.6 6 2.0 22 7.4
Skúvoy 4 12.1 14 42.4 2 6.1 1 3.0 10 30.3 2 6.1 0 0.0
Strendur 74 12.1 224 36.5 110 17.9 43 7.0 73 11.9 22 3.6 68 11.1
Sumba 17 10.0 20 11.8 70 41.2 5 2.9 56 32.9 0 0.0 2 1.2
Svínoy 8 38.1 3 14.3 2 9.5 1 4.8 6 28.6 0 0.0 1 4.8
Sørvágur 191 27.9 165 24.1 159 23.2 13 1.9 94 13.7 21 3.1 41 6.0
Tjørnuvík 2 3.9 6 11.8 23 45.1 4 7.8 11 21.6 3 5.9 2 3.9
Toftir 123 15.5 352 44.5 95 12.0 53 6.7 89 11.3 31 3.9 48 6.1
Tórshavn 1,460 13.3 1,562 14.2 2,956 26.9 222 2.0 2,873 26.2 1,298 11.8 598 5.5
Tvøroyri 168 14.5 111 9.6 669 57.6 12 1.0 150 12.9 12 1.0 39 3.4
Vágur 144 16.5 197 22.6 261 29.9 4 0.5 235 26.9 5 0.6 25 3.0
Velbastaður 18 9.6 20 10.6 33 17.6 1 0.5 87 46.3 24 12.8 5 2.7
Vestmanna 146 17.4 202 24.0 181 21.5 6 0.7 223 26.5 61 7.3 21 2.5
Viðareiði 139 57.7 24 10.0 38 15.8 10 4.1 7 2.9 8 3.3 15 6.2
Source: KVF

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Samuelsen, Ingi (29 July 2015). "Løgtingsval 1. september" (in Faroese). Portal.fo. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  2. ^ Uppskot um misálit á løgmann fall KVF, 4 August 2015
  3. ^ in.fo - Ein hjálpandi hond til løgtingið Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine in.fo, 23 June 2015
  4. ^ Uppskot um misálitisváttan Archived 2015-09-07 at the Wayback Machine Norðlysið, 4 August 2015
  5. ^ To færøske toppolitikere brød lov i kontroversiel tunnelsag Business, 25 June 2015
  6. ^ Soleiðis atkvøddu tingfólk um løgmann (Således stemte lagtingsmedlemmer om lagmanden) Archived 2015-08-06 at the Wayback Machine in.fo, 4 August 2015
  7. ^ Løgmaður : Eg havi ikki logið (Lagmanden: Jeg har ikke løjet) Archived 2015-09-28 at the Wayback Machine Portal.fo, 24 June 2015
  8. ^ Elections to the Faroese Løgting Election Resources
  9. ^ Løgtingsval 1. september 2015 KVF