List of lawmen and prime ministers of the Faroe Islands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands |
|
|---|---|
Flag of the Faroe Islands
|
|
Coat of arms of the Faroe Islands
|
|
| Cabinet of the Faroe Islands Government of the Faroe Islands |
|
| Member of | Løgting |
| Formation | c. 1000 12 May 1948 |
| First holder | Gilli (historic) Andrass Samuelsen |
| Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister |
The Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands is the main leader of the government in the Faroe Islands. This person helps make important decisions for the country.
In the Faroese language, the Prime Minister is called løgmaður. This old word means "lawman." Long ago, a lawman was like a judge or someone who explained the laws. After the Faroe Islands gained more control over their own government in 1948 (called Home Rule), they started using this old title again for their new leader. Today, the Faroese government officially uses "Prime Minister" in English. This shows how much more independent the islands have become.
Contents
History of the Løgmaður Role
Ancient Lawmen: Before 1816
The title of løgmaður is very old, going back to around the year 1000. These early lawmen were important people who knew and spoke about the laws. They helped keep order in the community. We don't know all the names of these early leaders. One of the first known lawmen was Gilli, around the year 1000. Many other lawmen served over the centuries until 1816.
Modern Prime Ministers: Since 1948
In 1948, the Faroe Islands gained "Home Rule." This meant they could manage many of their own affairs, like a mini-country. Since then, the løgmaður became the head of the Faroese government, much like a Prime Minister in other countries. Below is a list of the people who have served as Prime Minister since Home Rule began.
| No. | Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | Election Year | Government Cabinet | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started | Ended | How Long They Served | ||||||
| 1 |  |
Andrass Samuelsen (1873–1954) |
12 May 1948 | 15 December 1950 | 2 years, 217 days | Union Party | 1946 | Samuelsen |
| 2 |  |
Kristian Djurhuus (1895–1984) |
15 December 1950 | 8 January 1959 | 8 years, 24 days | Union Party | 1950 1954 |
Djurhuus I–II |
| 3 |  |
Peter Mohr Dam (1898–1968) |
8 January 1959 | 4 January 1963 | 3 years, 361 days | Social Democratic Party | 1958 | |
| 4 |  |
Hákun Djurhuus (1908–1987) |
4 January 1963 | 12 January 1967 | 4 years, 8 days | People's Party | 1962 | |
| (3) | |
Peter Mohr Dam (1898–1968) |
12 January 1967 | 19 November 1968 | 1 year, 312 days | Social Democratic Party | 1966 | |
| (2) | |
Kristian Djurhuus (1895–1984) |
19 November 1968 | 12 December 1970 | 2 years, 23 days | Union Party | 1966 | |
| 5 |  |
Atli Dam (1932–2005) |
12 December 1970 | 5 January 1981 | 10 years, 24 days | Social Democratic Party | 1970 1974 1978 |
|
| 6 | Pauli Ellefsen (1936–2012) |
5 January 1981 | 10 January 1985 | 4 years, 5 days | Union Party | 1980 | ||
| (5) | |
Atli Dam (1932–2005) |
10 January 1985 | 18 January 1989 | 4 years, 8 days | Social Democratic Party | 1984 | |
| 7 |  |
Jógvan Sundstein (1933– ) |
18 January 1989 | 15 January 1991 | 1 year, 362 days | People's Party | 1988 | |
| (5) | |
Atli Dam (1932–2005) |
15 January 1991 | 18 January 1993 | 2 years, 3 days | Social Democratic Party | 1990 | |
| 8 | Marita Petersen (1940–2001) |
18 January 1993 | 15 September 1994 | 1 year, 240 days | Social Democratic Party | 1990 | ||
| 9 |  |
Edmund Joensen (1944– ) |
15 September 1994 | 15 May 1998 | 3 years, 242 days | Union Party | 1994 | Joensen I–II |
| 10 |  |
Anfinn Kallsberg (1947–2024) |
15 May 1998 | 3 February 2004 | 5 years, 264 days | People's Party | 1998 2002 |
Kallsberg I–II |
| 11 |  |
Jóannes Eidesgaard (1951– ) |
3 February 2004 | 26 September 2008 | 4 years, 236 days | Social Democratic Party | 2004 | Eidesgaard I–II |
| 12 |  |
Kaj Leo Johannesen (1964– ) |
26 September 2008 | 15 September 2015 | 6 years, 354 days | Union Party | 2008 2011 |
Leo Johannesen I–II |
| 13 |  |
Aksel V. Johannesen (1972– ) |
15 September 2015 | 16 September 2019 | 4 years, 1 day | Social Democratic Party | 2015 | Aksel Johannesen |
| 14 |  |
Bárður á Steig Nielsen (1972– ) |
16 September 2019 | 22 December 2022 | 5 years, 276 days | Union Party | 2019 | Steig Nielsen |
| (13) | |
Aksel V. Johannesen (1972– ) |
22 December 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 179 days | Social Democratic Party | 2022 | Aksel Johannesen II |
See Also
- Politics of the Faroe Islands
- List of deputy prime ministers of the Faroe Islands
