Politics
The Faroese government holds executive power in local government affairs. The head of the government is called the Løgmaður (literally 'law person') or prime minister in English. Any other member of the cabinet is called a landsstýrismaður ('national committee man') or landsstýriskvinna, if the person is a woman. The Logting dates back to Viking times and is believed to be one of the oldest parliaments in the world. Today, elections are held in the municipalities, on a national level for the Løgting ('law assembly'), and for the Danish Folketing. Until 2007, there were seven electoral districts when elections were held, each one comprising a sýsla, while Streymoy is divided into a northern and southern part (Tórshavn region). However, on the 25th of October 2007, changes were made such that the entire country is one electoral district, giving each vote equal weight.
Read more about this topic: Faroe Islands
Famous quotes containing the word politics:
“The real grounds of difference upon important political questions no longer correspond with party lines.... Politics is no longer the topic of this country. Its important questions are settled... Great minds hereafter are to be employed on other matters.... Government no longer has its ancient importance.... The people’s progress, progress of every sort, no longer depends on government. But enough of politics. Henceforth I am out more than ever.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“From the beginning, the placement of [Clarence] Thomas on the high court was seen as a political end justifying almost any means. The full story of his confirmation raises questions not only about who lied and why, but, more important, about what happens when politics becomes total war and the truth—and those who tell it—are merely unfortunate sacrifices on the way to winning.”
—Jane Mayer, U.S. journalist, and Jill Abramson b. 1954, U.S. journalist. Strange Justice, p. 8, Houghton Mifflin (1994)