Aksel V. Johannesen


Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen is a Faroese lawyer and politician for the Social Democratic Party and a former footballer. He served as prime minister of the Faroe Islands from 2015 to 2019.

Political career

At the 2008 Faroese general election Aksel Johannesen was the party's 1st suppleant to the Løgting, and sometimes he took seat in the parliament, especially for Andrias Petersen. He became minister of health on 16 July 2009, when John Johannessen declined the minister position after Hans Pauli Strøm stepped down. He resigned as minister of health and was assigned as minister of finance on 21 February and was at the same time elected president of the Social Democratic Party on 5 March 2011. On 6 April the same year, he was appointed as vice prime minister. His main task as the president of the Social Democratic Party was to make the party rise to its former strength again for the upcoming election for the Løgting. On 14 November 2011 the cabinet was renewed and the Social Democratic Party was not a part of the new cabinet. Aksel Johannesen then became chairman of the Social Democratic Party on the Løgting.
At the Faroese general election on 1 September 2015, Johannesen's party won the election with 25.1% of the votes and he became prime minister. Johannesen himself got 2405 personal votes which was a new Faroese record. He broke the record of Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen from 2011 which was 1967 personal votes.

Football career

Aksel V. Johannesen played football with his hometown club KÍ Klaksvík, mostly as a forward. Although not always an automatic choice for the starting XI, he made his contribution, as KÍ won the Faroese League in 1991 and National cup in 1994.
Aksel V. Johannesen is also a noted runner, he was national 100 meters champion in 1994. He also played volleyball for Mjølnir, the club of Klaksvík.

Personal life

He is educated Master of Law from the University of Copenhagen in 2004, and worked as a lawyer in Tórshavn from 2007 until he became an active politician. He is former president of the football club of Klaksvík, Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag, where he used to play football in his youth.
Aksel V. Johannesen is the son of Vilhelm Johannesen, a former Faroese politician.