Bowing out of politics: Steering through the crisis was tough

Few politicians have enjoyed as long and eventful a career as former Faroese Prime Minister and current Faroese member of the Danish Parliament, Edmund Joensen from Oyrar. But he has announced his retirement, “the time is right, I can still find the door myself.”

He has little interest in reminiscing about his glowing reputation or achievements. However, he wouldn’t mind being remembered as a politician true to his values, who put trust and loyalty first. Or as a libertarian who made a tangible difference to minorities by voting in favour of LGBTQ equality.

“It’s a politician’s duty to make conditions as good as possible for everyone in society and to safeguard minorities. I have always been sure of where I stand on so-called ethical issues, which parliamentarians should be allowed to vote on freely after their conscience,” affirms Edmund Joensen, who also backs women’s abortion rights, which have yet to be granted in the Faroe Islands.

Prime Minister Through The Deepest Crisis

Edmund Joensen was first elected to the Faroese Parliament in 1988 for Sambandsflokkurin, the Union Party. During the recession he served two coalitions as prime minister from 1994 to 1998. However, he never aspired to the highest office. As Union Party chair he was in the running to lead the coalition, but felt the post as prime minister required a higher academic degree, which he didn’t hold. His experience was in fisheries administration, so he nominated other members of the Union Party, but they refused.

“In hindsight I understand why they didn’t accept. It was an immense burden at that junction. (…) The Faroe Islands were a bankrupt estate and nobody wanted to be Prime Minister. So they kicked the ball back into my court,” Edmund remembers.

It was a time of banking crisis, economic crisis, social crisis. Nearly one in four people were unemployed and the Faroese families emigrated in droves. Wide-ranging structural reforms were needed.

The responsibility was crushing and it was a bitter task to make those unpopular, but necessary, decisions. Edmund admits, “It was a very very tough time and it also hit my family hard. Public debate was heated and there were comments below the board at times. I would have liked to spare my family that.”

Better Than Its Reputation

Politics is often cast as a dirty game, particularly in the media and tv-series like ‘House of Cards.’

But Edmund doesn’t quite think fiction correlates with reality, “It isn’t my experience. Politics is better than its reputation. Of course it’s about winning power to see your political designs through. And, yes, there can be fierce clashes. Having said that, once the debates are over and the camera crews have gone home, friendship and healthy working relationships remain across all parties.”

And those ties are crucial to achieving sensible results. During informal chats disagreements soften and the foundations of political agreements are laid. According to the former Prime Minister, it’s all about trust, which is what he has strived for throughout his career. Political credibility hinges on trust, he says. And he would like to see Faroese politicians become better at hammering out broad long-term agreements across the centre. For him, it is one Danish custom worth emulating, as it would make the Faroe Islands more politically stable.

Planting The Future

Though he is well past retirement age, Edmund Joensen doesn’t intend to stay idle after politics. He has plans for aquaculture and sustainable energy, though nothing concrete yet. But his hobby is tangible.

Alongside his wife Edfríð, he has spent years foresting an area around their house on Oyrabakkavegur – and they plan to expand the grove. Some are calling the beauty spot Edmundslund, ‘Edmund´s grove’ He has a different suggestion: Central Park, given its proximity to the bridge connecting the two largest islands in the country.

“Who knows? In fifty years time Central Park might be the heart of a lovely little town by Sundalagið,” Edmund says with a smile.