Samuelsen faces pressure to appoint investigator over Strøm’s alleged misleading statements in Tórshavn

Bjørt Samuelsen, the President of the Faroese Parliament, received a request from the ruling coalition within the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs yesterday.

The coalition calls on Samuelsen to appoint an investigator in accordance with Section 38, Subsection 2 of the government administration law. This investigation aims to determine whether the Minister of the Environment, Ingilín Strøm, intentionally or with gross negligence provided misleading information to the parliament during the third reading of parliamentary bill 59/2023 on May 2, 2024. At that time, Strøm stated that she had not received any indications of issues regarding the long-term management of housing authority Bústøðir.

The request is signed by Hans Jacob Thomsen, the chairman of the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs.

Twelve days earlier, Johnhard Klettheytt, the parliamentary secretary, noted in a memorandum dated October 10 that there were no grounds to appoint an investigator, arguing that the issue was too minor.

Consequently, Bjørt Samuelsen is obligated to appoint an investigator according to the government administration law, despite her legal advisors recommending against it. “I will take the coalition’s decision into account,” stated Bjørt Samuelsen.

The Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs is divided on the matter concerning Ingilín Strøm. Bárður Nielsen from the Union Party, which recently entered the minority in the Ministry, immediately announced that the opposition would prepare a proposal for a vote of no confidence in Strøm.

During midday news, Beinir Johannesen of the People’s Party and Jenis av Rana of the Centre Party expressed their support for a vote of no confidence against Strøm. The opposition parties do not support the appointment of an investigator; instead, they have requested that the Prime Minister dismiss Strøm before tomorrow’s parliament session, where the vote of no confidence will be raised.

Attempts to obtain a comment from Aksel V. Johannesen for the evening news were unsuccessful.