Faroese parliament rejects opposition family support proposal

The Løgting, the Faroe Islands’ parliament, rejected an opposition proposal on Thursday to provide financial support to families under economic pressure, Kringvarp Føroya reported.

The proposal would have amended the law on family supplements to give financially strained households assistance this year after they were hit hard by rising energy prices. It was submitted by Tjóðveldi and Sjálvstýri.

Bjørg Brynhildardóttir Egholm, the proposal’s sponsor and the minority spokesperson on the Social Affairs Committee, said support was needed for families struggling to meet basic needs.

“I think it is quite heartbreaking when, for example, you read the child plan and hear about children living in cold rooms, having empty refrigerators or being unable to go where their friends go,” she said. “We do not think we can sit back and not try to help those who are worst off.”

The committee majority recommended rejecting the proposal. Its chairman and majority spokesperson, Grímur Sundstein, said temporary political aid packages were not a sustainable solution.

“We believe this is not a sustainable solution, with politicians having to introduce aid packages every year,” he said. “We would rather look for a more lasting solution.”

The government introduced a temporary VAT exemption on petrol and diesel in the spring, but it has now expired. The measure was intended to reduce costs for people while energy prices were unusually high.

The coalition may introduce another form of assistance this autumn. The committee majority’s report says the government is closely monitoring conditions in society and will consider support for financially strained people if oil prices rise again and the situation becomes prolonged.

Sundstein declined to say what the government might be considering, saying any proposals would come from the government when the time was right.

The coalition ultimately voted together to defeat the opposition proposal.