Faroese independence movement
The Faroese independence movement (Faroese: Føroyska Tjóðskaparrørslan), or the Faroese national movement (Føroyska Sjálvstýrisrørslan), is a political movement which seeks the establishment of the Faroe Islands as a sovereign state outside of Denmark.[1][2][3] Reasons for independence include the linguistic and cultural divide between Denmark and the Faroe Islands as well as their lack of proximity to one another; the Faroe Islands are about 990 km (620 mi) from Danish shores.
History of sovereignty
Pre-Denmark
According to
Under Danish rule
The islands have been ruled, with brief interruptions, by the Danish government since 1388, all the time being part of Norway up until 1814. Although the state of
The renewed
The nationalist fervor has its roots in late 19th century, established initially as a cultural and political movement which struggled for the rights of using the Faroese language in the schools, the church, in media and in the legislature. The designated start is believed to be the Christmas Meeting of 1888, which was held on December 22, 1888 in the Løgting (parliament) in Tórshavn. Two of the persons who participated were Jóannes Patursson and Rasmus Effersøe. Patursson had written a poem which Effersøe read aloud, the first line starts: Nú er tann stundin komin til handa,[10] which is often cited in support of the movement.[11] The poem was about preserving and taking care of the Faroese language; over the years it has gained a strong cultural footing in the Faroe Islands. The Faroese language was not allowed to be used in the Faroese public schools as a teaching language until 1938,[12] and in the church (Fólkakirkjan) until 1939.[13]
Young students who studied in Denmark played a prominent role in the nationalist movement. The
Denmark was
Status of autonomy
In the
Political solutions
Organizations
Four
1946 referendum
On September 14, 1946, a referendum regarding independence was held. With a valid vote count of 11,146, 50.74% voted in favor of independence while 49.26% opted to remain associated with Denmark, leaving a difference of 166 votes between the two options.[21] The chairman of the Løgting declared independence on September 18; this move was not recognised by the opposition parties, and it was annulled by Denmark on September 20.[22] King Christian X of Denmark subsequently dissolved the Løgting; it was swiftly replaced in the parliamentary election held on November 8, with parties favoring union with Denmark now retaining a majority.[23]
Constitutional crisis
The Danish and Faroese governments have consistently haggled over the drastic revision of the Faroese constitution, with many clauses clashing with those of Denmark.[24] The conflict reached its apex in 2011, when then-Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Løkke Rasmussen declared that new edits could not coincide with the state's constitution. Rasmussen presented two options to the Faroese: secede or scrap the hypothetical constitution. Faroese Prime Minister Kaj Leo Johannesen asserted that they would begin a new draft of the constitution and remain in the Danish Realm.[25]
Concerns of economic viability
“It's currently only the money that actually connects us to Denmark. All Faroese agree that we should have our own schools and own language. The cultural battle is over. It’s the Danish money that is the obstacle to independence.”
—
Although they enjoy a significant amount of autonomy from Denmark, the Faroe Islands still regularly rely on
See also
- Constitution of Denmark
- Danish Realm
- Greenlandic independence
- Icelandic independence movement
- Norwegian independence movement
- List of active separatist movements in Europe
References
- S2CID 13718740.
- ^ Ackren, Maria (2006). "The Faroe Islands: Options for Independence". Islands Journal. 1.
- OCLC 254447422.
- ^ "The Faroe Islands, Faroese History – A part of Randburg". Randburg.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-07.
- ^ "About the Faroe Islands". Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
- ^ "The Peace Treaty of Kiel". 13 February 2007. kongehuset.no. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "The Faroese Parliament" (PDF). Logting. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Historical Timeline". Faroe Islands. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Historical overview" (PDF). Logting. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ 125 ár síðan jólafundin í 1888
- ^ Nú er tann stundin... Tjóðskaparrørsla og sjálvstýrispolitikkur til 1906
- ^ Føroyskar bókmentir, page 4 (in Faroese)
- ^ "Fólkakirkjan". Archived from the original on 2015-03-08. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
- ^ "Tjóðskapur". Archived from the original on 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
- ^ "Faroe Islands and the British occupation". 24 July 2013. Sunvil Discovery. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "In Faroese". Logir.fo. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "The unity of the Realm". Stm.dk. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ Lov om de færøske myndigheders overtagelse af sager og sagsområder (written in Danish)
- ^ "FAROES/DK". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Government & Politics". Faroe Islands. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Faroe Islands, September 14, 1946: Status (In German)". 04 October 2013. Direct Democracy. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Faeroe (sic) Islands". World States Men. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "FAROES/DK". DemocracyWatch. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ a b Weinberg, Cory. "Iceland's Neighbours Turn Up Heat On Declaring Independence". 07 April 2012. Reykjavik Grapevine. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Alex. "Denmark and Faroe Islands in constitutional clash". 6 July 2011. Ice News. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ a b Topdahl, Rolv. "The Faroese nearer independence with oil". 20 August 2012. Aenergy. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Topdahl, Rolv. "Oil can turn the Faroe Islands into the new Kuwait". 23 August 2012. Aenergy. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ "Statoil to spud eighth Faroe well in two weeks". 1 June 2012. Aenergy. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.