The Løgting (Parliament) is the legislative assembly for special Faroese affairs, and also appoints the Løgmaður (Prime Minister), who along with his cabinet ministers administers special Faroese affairs, in many cases also joint affairs according to agreement with the Danish Government. E.g. most of the real preparations in the field of foreign policy concerning the Faroes are actually carried out in the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Faroese Prime Minister’s Office, though they are
formally represented by the Danish Foreign Service.

The Løgting has at most 33 MP’s elected in 7 constituencies.

Føroya Landsstýri, the Home Government of the Faroe Islands (in brief the Faroese Government) consists of no less than 2 Cabinet ministers led by the Prime Minister. The present Cabinet number is 7, including the Prime Minister. The central administration consists of the Prime Minister’s Office and 6 Ministries:

Ministry of Culture and Education

Ministry of Finance

Ministry of Fisheries

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Social Affairs

Ministry of Interiour

Ministry of Trade and Industry

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Danish State “Rigsombudsmand” or High Commissioner is the highest Danish State representative in the Faroes. He has the mandate to appear in the Løgting and speak on joint affairs.

A local Judge and a Chief Constable, who is also the Public Prosecutor, repres ent the Danish Judicial system. The Danish Defence Ministry operates a combined naval station and a NATO air force early warning radar site.

The 34 local Municipalities enjoy a high degree of autonomy and they co-operate in great many areas, such as electricity supply, environmental protection, education, children’s care and primary health services.

The Faroese party system is traditionally regarded as two-dimensional. Besides the usual Right-Left axis there is also a line dividing the parties on the basis of their attitude towards Faroese selfgovernment.

The parties represented in the Løgting are spread across these political spectra.
The Faroese Government coalition is currently (Sep 2008) made up of representatives from the People’s Party, the Unionist's Party, and the Social Democrats, headed by Mr. Kaj Leo Johannesen, Løgmaður (Prime Minister) from the Social Democrats.

The Faroe Islands elect two representatives to the Danish Parliament, the Folketing. Elections to the Faroese Løgting (Parliament) are held every four years. These were the results of the election to the Løgting in January 2008:

People’s Party (Fólkaflokkurin) 7
Unionist Party (Sambandsflokkurin) 7
Social Democrats (Javnaðarflokkurin) 6
Independence Party (Sjálvstýrisflokkurin) 2
Republicans (Tjóðveldisflokkurin) 8
Centre Party (Miðflokkurin) 3
Total 32