The Faroe Islands have a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.
There are two major ideological cleavages in Faroese politics. In addition to the left-right spectrum, parties are also divided between those that want to maintain the Faroes' place within the Danish Realm ('unionists') and those that want Faroese independence ('separatists').
thumb|Schematic depiction of the political party spectrum in the Faroe Islands
The current government is formed by a coalition between the centre-right People's Party, the centre-right Union Party, and the centre-left Social Democratic Party.
Political parties with elected representation at a national level
There are currently seven parties represented in the Løgting. The largest party represents centre-right separatism with nine seats, while the second-largest party represents centre-right unionism with seven seats. The next two – each with six seats – represent centre-left unionism and left-wing separatism. There are also three minor parties in the Løgting, representing centre-right, right-wing and centrist separatism.
{| class ="wikitable"
! rowspan=2 class=unsortable | Election<br/>symbol
! rowspan=2 colspan=2 | Party
! colspan=2 | MPs
! rowspan=2 | Ideology
! rowspan=2 | Leader
|-
! Løgting <br> <small>(Faroese <br> Parliament)</small>
! Folketing <br> <small>(Danish <br> Parliament)</small>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | center|50x50px
| style="background-color: " |
| People's Party<br/>
|
|
| Centre-right – conservative and socially conservative.<br/>In favour of Faroese independence.
| Beinir Johannesen
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | center|50x50px
| style="background-color: " |
| Union Party<br/>
|
|
| Centre-right – conservative liberal and Nordic agrarian.<br/>In favour of union with Denmark.
| Bárður á Steig Nielsen
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | center|50x50px
| style="background-color: " |
| Social Democratic Party<br/>
|
|
| Centre-left – social democratic.<br/>In favour of union with Denmark.
| Aksel V. Johannesen
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | center|50x50px
| style="background-color: " |
| Republic<br/>
|
|
| Left-wing – democratic socialist.<br/>In favour of Faroese independence.
| Sirið Stenberg
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | center|50x50px
| style="background-color: " |
| Progress<br/>
|
|
| Centre-right – classical liberal.<br/>In favour of Faroese independence.
| Ruth Vang
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | center|50x50px
| style="background-color: " |
| Centre Party<br/>
|
|
| Right-wing – Christian democratic, conservative and anti-LGBT.<br/>In favour of Faroese independence.
| Jenis av Rana
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | center|50x50px
| style="background-color: " |
| Sjálvstýri
|
|
| Centre – social liberal.<br/>In favour of gradual Faroese independence.
| Sámal Petur í Grund
|}
Defunct parties
- Advancement for the Islands (Marxist–Leninist) (Oyggjaframi (marx-leninistar))
- Business Party (Vinnuflokkurin)
- Faroese Communist Party (Kommunistiski flokkur Føroya)
- Christian People's Party (Kristiligi fólkaflokkurin), formerly known as the Progress Party (Framburðsflokkurin)
- Faroese Socialists (Føroyskir Sosialistar)
- Faroese Party (Hin føroyski flokkurin)
- Freedom Union (Frælsisfylkingin)
- Funny Party (Hin stuttligi flokkurin)
- Progress Party (Framsóknarflokkurin)
- The Red 1 May Group
- Separatist Party (Loysingarflokkurin)
- Social Separatist Party (Sosialistiski loysingarflokkurin)
- Worker's Union (Verkamannafylkingin)
See also
- Lists of political parties