Self-Government Party

Sjálvstýrisflokkurin ( German self-government party ) is a social liberal party of the Faroe Islands. It was founded in 1909. Most recently, she reached in 2011 4.2 percent of the vote and a 33 Løgtingsitzen in the election.

Informally, the party existed as early as 1906, when the Sambandsflokkurin to Løgtingswahl presented, but in 1909 it was constituted as the second party in the Faroe Islands. The first chairman was Jóannes Patursson.

Unlike Samband Sjálvstyri entered for the Faroe Islands of Denmark autonomy. So you combined the nationalist forces that had already featured on the Christmas meeting of the Faroe Islands in 1888. First, the self-government party was in the minority, but for the first time in 1918 could represent the majority of MPs. Only when the co-founder Jóannes Patursson 1939 a new national party emphasized Fólkaflokkurin founded Sjálvstyri lost a lot of weight. Since the Second World War, the Sjálvstýrisflokkurin always remained below the 10 % mark. As a party in the middle of the political spectrum Sjálvstyri could make tip the balance in spite of their low numbers of seats. So Sjálvstyri was often involved in government coalitions. In the Faroese political system of coordinates, the party is more left in the middle, and also on the issue of independence of the Faroe Islands, it represents today a very moderate position, especially since their claims with the recognition of the Faroese language and the Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands have been largely met. The independence from Denmark is sought today mainly of Fólkaflokkurin ( conservative) and Tjóðveldi (socialist ).