Faroese MP replaced after vote recount reverses election result

A recount of votes in the Faroe Islands’ parliamentary election has overturned the initial result, handing a seat to Eirikur í Jákupsstovu of the Republic party instead of his colleague Jóhan Christiansen, national broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya reports.

The final recount on Monday awarded Eirikur nine additional votes, bringing his total to 313, while Jóhan received just two extra votes, leaving him with 309. The shift means Eirikur will take the sixth and final seat allocated to the Republic party in the Faroese parliament, the Løgting.

Malan Johansen, chair of the election committee, confirmed the recount result as final but acknowledged that misallocated votes had “significant consequences” for individual candidates. The committee can only correct errors made during the initial count on March 26.

The reversal means Eirikur, who had not expected to win a seat, will enter parliament, while Jóhan—who had been in sixth place—will lose his position. “I’m still a bit stunned,” Eirikur told Kringvarp Føroya, admitting he had anticipated a coalition agreement might secure him a seat as an alternate MP.

Both politicians previously served in the Faroese government until a reshuffle last year, when the Republic party adjusted its representation to strengthen support outside the capital, particularly in the northern islands. Eirikur said the election result confirmed that decision had been correct.

The recount had no impact on other parties. The only other close race—within the Union Party—remained unchanged, with Johan Dahl retaining his seat by three votes over Magni Højgaard.