Independence movements

History of Faroese self-government and the independence debate

From the disputed 1946 independence referendum and the 1948 Home Rule Act to the 2005 Takeover Act, the cancelled 2001 referendum and the current Løgting.

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The 1946 referendum and its disputed aftermath

On 14 September 1946, Faroese voters were asked whether the Faroe Islands should separate from Denmark. A narrow majority, 50.72% (5,660 votes) to 49.28% (5,499 votes), favoured separation, with 481 invalid or blank ballots on a turnout of 67.61%.[1][2]

The Speaker of the Løgting declared independence on 18 September, but a majority of the Løgting itself, along with the Danish parliament and government, did not recognise the declaration.[3] King Christian X dissolved the Løgting on 24 September and called a fresh election; on 8 November 1946, unionist parties won 7,488 votes against 5,396 for independence parties.[4]

· Referendum or popular consultation

Faroese independence referendum, 1946

Voters narrowly backed separation from Denmark, but the Løgting's declaration of independence was not recognised and was reversed after a fresh election.

The 1948 Home Rule Act

The 1946 result and subsequent negotiations produced the Home Rule Act, No. 137, signed by King Frederik IX and Prime Minister Hans Hedtoft on 23 March 1948 and in force from 1 April 1948.[5][6] Section 1 made the Faroe Islands a self-governing community within the State of Denmark, exercising self-government through the Løgting and the Landsstýri "within the unity of the Realm".[7]

The Act divided competences into two lists: "List A" matters transferred to the Home Government at once or on request, spanning local government, health, welfare, taxation, schools, agriculture and fisheries, and "List B" matters — including the Established Church, police, underground raw materials, radio and aviation — reserved for further negotiation.[8] Matters outside Faroese competence remained "joint concerns" for the Danish national authorities, and Faroese competence was always subject to Denmark's international treaty obligations.[9]

· Legislation

Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, 1948

Established the Faroe Islands as a self-governing community within the Kingdom of Denmark, with the Løgting and Landsstýri exercising devolved authority.

The cancelled referendum of 2001

An independence referendum was planned for 26 May 2001.[10] Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen told the Faroese that full independence would mean full economic responsibility, and the referendum was cancelled at a late stage amid concern that Danish subsidies would end.[11]

The 2005 Takeover Act

Act No. 578 of 24 June 2005, supplementary to the Home Rule Act, gave the Faroese Government unilateral authority to assume legislative and executive competence over matters not already under Faroese control.[12] Assuming a matter carries with it full legislative and administrative responsibility, together with the associated financial costs.[13]

The Act excepts the constitution, citizenship, the supreme court, foreign policy, security and defence policy, and monetary and currency matters, which remain with Denmark; Denmark also continues to handle policing, prisons, immigration, border control, financial regulation and aviation supervision.[14]

The Danish position on independence

Danish Prime Ministers have on several occasions, including in recent years, stated that the Faroe Islands shall become an independent state as soon as the Faroese people so decide.[15]

The 2026 Løgting election

At the general election of 26 March 2026, on a turnout of 89.49%, the People's Party won 9 of the Løgting's 33 seats (26.75%), its largest seat total since 1950 and the largest vote share of any Faroese party since 1990.[16][17][18] The Union Party won 7 seats, the Social Democratic Party 6, Republic (Tjóðveldi) 6, Progress 2, the Centre Party 2 and Sjálvstýri 1.[17]

A coalition government of the People's Party, the Union Party and the Social Democratic Party formed under Prime Minister Beinir Johannesen.[19] Republic, the party whose primary stated aim is Faroese independence, held 6 of the 33 seats.[20][21]

· Election

Faroese general election, 2026

The People's Party won its largest seat total since 1950; a coalition government formed under Beinir Johannesen, while the pro-independence Republic party held 6 of 33 seats.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: On 14 September 1946, Faroese voters were asked whether the Faroe Islands should separate from Denmark.

    • 1946 Faroese independence referendum (Wikipedia) link, infobox and lead. Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: The result was 5,660 votes (50.72%) for separation and 5,499 votes (49.28%) against, with 481 invalid or blank ballots, on a turnout of 67.61% of 17,216 registered voters.

    • 1946 Faroese independence referendum (Wikipedia) link, Results section. Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: The Speaker of the Løgting declared independence on 18 September 1946, but this was not recognised by a majority of the Løgting or by the Danish parliament and government.

    • 1946 Faroese independence referendum (Wikipedia) link, Aftermath section. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: King Christian X dissolved the Løgting on 24 September 1946 and called fresh elections; in the election of 8 November 1946, unionist parties won 7,488 votes against 5,396 for independence parties.

    • 1946 Faroese independence referendum (Wikipedia) link, Aftermath section. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: The Act was given at Christiansborg on 23 March 1948 and signed by King Frederik IX and Prime Minister Hans Hedtoft, coming into force on 1 April 1948.

    • Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, s. 16 and signature block. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  6. 6.

    Claim: The 1946 result and the subsequent talks led to the Home Rule Act of 23 March 1948, which gave the Faroe Islands self-government within the Kingdom of Denmark rather than independence.

    • 1946 Faroese independence referendum (Wikipedia) link, Aftermath section. Source record
    • Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, s. 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  7. 7.

    Claim: Section 1 of the Home Rule Act, No. 137 of 23 March 1948, establishes the Faroe Islands as a self-governing community within the State of Denmark, with the Faroese people exercising self-government "within the unity of the Realm" through the Løgting and the Landsstýri.

    • Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, s. 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  8. 8.

    Claim: The Act's "List A" transferred a wide range of domestic matters — local government, health, welfare, taxation, schools, agriculture and fisheries among them — to the Home Government at once or on request; "List B" left matters including the Established Church, police, underground raw materials, radio, aviation and import/export controls for further negotiation.

    • Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, List A and List B. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  9. 9.

    Claim: Under sections 4–6, the Home Government holds legislative and administrative authority over matters transferred to it; matters not transferred remain "joint concerns" handled by the national (Danish) authorities, and the competence of Faroese authorities is always subject to Denmark's international treaty obligations.

    • Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, ss. 4–6. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  10. 10.

    Claim: A Faroese independence referendum was planned for 26 May 2001.

    • Faroese independence movement (Wikipedia) link, summary of the 2001 referendum. Source record
    • The Faroe Islands: Options for Independence (ResearchGate) link, discussion of the 2000–2001 referendum attempt. Source record
  11. 11.

    Claim: Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen told the Faroese that full independence would also mean full economic responsibility; the planned referendum was cancelled at a late stage amid concern that Danish subsidies would end. Attributed to Reported statement of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark

    • Faroese independence movement (Wikipedia) link, summary of the 2001 referendum. Source record
  12. 12.

    Claim: The Act on the Faroese Authorities' Assumption of Matters and Fields of Responsibility (Act No. 578 of 24 June 2005) gives the Faroese Government unilateral authority to assume legislative and executive competence over matters not already Faroese.

    • Act on the Faroese Authorities' Assumption of Matters and Fields of Responsibility (Act No. 578 of 24 June 2005) (Government of the Faroe Islands / Folketing, 24 June 2005) link, summary of the Act. Source record
    • Government of the Faroe Islands, Constitutional status (Government of the Faroe Islands) link, The 2005 Assumption Act. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  13. 13.

    Claim: On assuming a matter under the 2005 Act, the Faroese authorities take on full legislative and administrative responsibility for it, together with the associated financial costs.

    • Government of the Faroe Islands, Constitutional status (Government of the Faroe Islands) link, Unilateral assumption of powers. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  14. 14.

    Claim: The 2005 Act excepts from unilateral Faroese assumption: the constitution, citizenship, the supreme court, foreign policy, security and defence policy, and monetary and currency matters; Denmark also continues to handle policing, prisons, probation, legal capacity law, immigration, border control, financial regulation and aviation supervision.

    • Government of the Faroe Islands, Constitutional status (Government of the Faroe Islands) link, Areas remaining under Danish authority. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  15. 15.

    Claim: Prime Ministers of Denmark have on several occasions, including in recent years, stated that the Faroe Islands shall become an independent state as soon as the Faroese people so decide. Attributed to Government of the Faroe Islands, summarising statements by successive Danish Prime Ministers

    • Government of the Faroe Islands, The Political and Legal Status of the Faroe Islands (Government of the Faroe Islands) link, summary of Danish governments' position. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  16. 16.

    Claim: A general election to all 33 seats of the Løgting was held on 26 March 2026, on a turnout of 89.49%.

    • Elections: Faroese Parliament 2026 General (International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Election Guide) link, election summary. Source record
    • 2026 Faroese general election (Wikipedia) link, infobox. Source record
  17. 17.

    Claim: The People's Party won 9 seats (26.75%), the Union Party 7 seats (21.51%), the Social Democratic Party 6 seats (18.88%), Republic (Tjóðveldi) 6 seats (17.39%), Progress 2 seats (6.56%), the Centre Party 2 seats (5.28%) and Sjálvstýri 1 seat (3.63%).

  18. 18.

    Claim: The People's Party's 2026 result was its largest seat total since 1950 and the largest vote share of any Faroese party since 1990.

    • 2026 Faroese general election (Wikipedia) link, summary of the result's significance. Source record
  19. 19.

    Claim: Following the election, a coalition government of the People's Party, the Union Party and the Social Democratic Party was formed under Prime Minister Beinir Johannesen.

    • 2026 Faroese general election (Wikipedia) link, Government formation section. Source record
  20. 20.

    Claim: Tjóðveldi (Republic) is the Faroese party whose primary stated aim is the establishment of the Faroe Islands as an independent, sovereign state.

  21. 21.

    Claim: At the 2026 election, Republic won 6 of the Løgting's 33 seats; among the other parties, positions on independence range from gradualist support to preference for continued union with Denmark.

Source note

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Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/faroe-islands/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.