Faroe Islands municipal elections fall short of gender parity threshold

The recent municipal elections in the Faroe Islands did not achieve the gender parity threshold. With all votes counted, a total of 134 men and 67 women have been elected to the local councils.

Among the elected officials, men comprise two-thirds while women account for one-third.

In Runavík municipality, the decline in female representation on the council is notable. In the 2020 election, four women and seven men were elected, but this year only one woman, Sigrun Jónsveinsdóttir, managed to secure a seat alongside ten men.

Jónsveinsdóttir expressed her hope for more women to be elected and for gender balance in the council. Despite the situation, she remained determined to work hard towards the goals she has set for herself.

This year’s municipal elections had the potential to significantly enhance gender equality in Faroese local politics, as an unprecedented number of women stood for election. However, the outcome fell short of expectations, achieving a gender representation ratio well below the minimum requirement of 60/40.

The situation has deteriorated since the last municipal elections in 2020, when women constituted 36 percent of those elected to local councils. This latest election resulted in a nearly three percent drop in female representation. Notably, the councils in Hvannasund and Skúvoy saw no women elected this time around.

Discussions featuring Sigrun Jónsveinsdóttir and Niels Uni Dam, the chair of the Democratic party, provide further insights into the implications of these results.