Faroese politician denies interfering in Bakkafrost case

A Faroese politician has denied allegations of improper influence in a case involving the seafood company Bakkafrost, stating he contacted a civil servant—not a political official—regarding the matter.

Michael Boolsen, a member of the Faroese parliament, told public broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya that he called the Prime Minister’s Office only because John Rajani, the head of public communications, works there. Boolsen insisted he did not engage with political leadership but rather with administrative staff.

“I do not believe I have any duty to disclose this,” Boolsen said, adding that the case fell under the Ministry of Labour—not the Prime Minister’s Office. A leaked recording appears to show Boolsen pressuring someone to break confidentiality.

The comments follow scrutiny over potential political interference in regulatory matters concerning Bakkafrost, one of the Faroe Islands’ largest aquaculture firms.