Opposition firmly opposed to prime minister’s proposal

Faroese opposition parties Tjóðveldi and Framsókn have come out firmly against a proposal by Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen to allocate additional fishing days under section 5B, while Sjálvstýri and Miðflokkurin support the plan.

Ruth Vang, chair of Framsókn, called the proposal short-sighted and unstable politics that caters only to a single interest group. Eirikur í Jákupsstovu of Tjóðveldi said the 5B section must first be amended before any extra days can be allocated, noting that this was the parliament’s stated intention.

Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen has reiterated his intention to allocate more days, citing cultural and historical arguments. He pointed out that in December the parliament approved the transfer of around 800 unused days from 2024 to 2025, yet only a handful were actually used.

Sámal Petur í Grund of Sjálvstýri and Stefan í Skorini of Miðflokkurin both voiced support for the prime minister’s plan to allocate additional fishing days.