At stake in this election:

• 33 seats in the Faroese Parliament (Logting)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark *
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD
• Assembly: Faroe Islands has a unicameral Faroese Parliament (Logting) with 33 seats.

* The Queen is represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001).

Description of electoral system:

• The Queen is the hereditary head of state.
• The Prime Minister is elected by parliament.
• In the Faroese Parliament (Logting) 33 members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve 4-year terms.***

*** In 2007 the electoral system was switched from district-based PR (seven districts) to one, nationwide district for all 33 seats. Votes are tabulated using the D'Hondt method.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Union Party
  Leader: Kaj Leo JOHANNESEN
  Seats won in this election: 7
  Seats won in last election: 7
• Party: Social Democratic Party
  Leader: Joannes EIDESGAARD
  Seats won in this election: 6
  Seats won in last election: 7
• Party: Republican Party***
  Leader: Hogni HOYDAL
  Seats won in this election: 8
  Seats won in last election: 8
• Party: People's Party
  Leader: N/A
  Seats won in this election: 7
  Seats won in last election: 7
• Party: Center Party*****
  Leader: Jenis RANA
  Seats won in this election: 3
  Seats won in last election: 2
• Party: Independence Party
  Leader: Kari HOJGAARD
  Seats won in this election: 2
  Seats won in last election: 1

*** In 2006 one member left the Republican Party and joined the Center Party.
***** Since 2006, the party has 3 seats.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 48,385 (November 2007 est.)
• Registered Voters: 34,835 ( 2008 )