Women hold majority in Faroese parliament’s finance committee for first time

For the first time, women make up the majority of the Faroese parliament’s finance committee, despite holding only one chairmanship across all committees, Faroese broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya reports.

Four women—Elsebeth Mercedes Gunnleygsdóttir, Eyðgunn Samuelsen, Sirið Stenberg, and Ruth Vang—have been appointed to the seven-member finance committee, marking the first time the committee has a female majority. The committee will be chaired by Helgi Abrahamsen, the sole male member.

While gender balance does not formally influence committee assignments in the Faroese parliament, the shift is notable given that women constitute roughly one-third of all parliament members. Elsebeth Mercedes Gunnleygsdóttir, who did not secure a cabinet position, will also serve as the People’s Party parliamentary group leader.

The current committee chairs are as follows:
– Finance Committee: Helgi Abrahamsen (chair)
– Foreign Affairs Committee: Jørgen Niclasen (chair)
– Labour Committee: Ben Arabo (chair)
– Judicial Committee: Fróði Magnussen (chair)
– Welfare Committee: Grímur Sundstein (chair)
– Culture Committee: Súsanna Bertholdsen (chair)
– Government Affairs Committee: Erhard Joensen (chair)