1946 Faroese independence referendum
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Danish. (November 2022) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Faroese. (November 2022) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Content in this edit is translated from the existing Faroese Wikipedia article at [[:fo:Fólkaatkvøðan 14. september 1946]]; see its history for attribution.{{Translated|fo|Fólkaatkvøðan 14. september 1946}} to the talk page. |
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Do you want the Faroe Islands to separate from Denmark? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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An independence referendum was held in the Faroe Islands, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, on 14 September 1946. Although a narrow majority of valid votes were cast in favour of the proposal (50.7%), the number of invalid votes exceeded the winning margin. Although independence was declared by the Speaker of the Løgting on 18 September 1946, the declaration was not recognised by Denmark. Danish King Christian X dissolved the Løgting and called fresh elections, which were won by unionist parties. The islands were subsequently given a greater level of self-rule.
Results
[edit]| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 5,660 | 50.72 | |
| Against | 5,499 | 49.28 | |
| Total | 11,159 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 11,159 | 95.87 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 481 | 4.13 | |
| Total votes | 11,640 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 17,216 | 67.61 | |
| Source: Direct Democracy | |||
By island
[edit]| Island | Independence | Continued Union | Invalid/ blank |
Total | Registered voters |
Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||
| Norðoyar | 956 | 70.6 | 398 | 29.4 | 64 | 1,418 | 2,220 | 63.9 |
| Eysturoy | 1,052 | 43.3 | 1,376 | 56.7 | 99 | 2,527 | 3,854 | 65.6 |
| Norðurstreymoy | 622 | 53.4 | 543 | 46.6 | 42 | 1,207 | 1,679 | 71.9 |
| Vágar | 614 | 58.6 | 434 | 41.4 | 38 | 1,086 | 1,485 | 73.1 |
| Suðurstreymoy | 1,308 | 66.0 | 674 | 34.0 | 145 | 2,127 | 3,323 | 64.0 |
| Sandoy | 465 | 61.9 | 286 | 38.1 | 32 | 783 | 1,053 | 74.4 |
| Suðuroy | 643 | 26.5 | 1,788 | 73.5 | 61 | 2,492 | 3,602 | 69.2 |
| Total | 5,660 | 50.7 | 5,499 | 49.3 | 481 | 11,640 | 17,216 | 67.6 |
Aftermath
[edit]The result – without taking the invalid votes into regard – was 50.7% in favour of full independence to 49.3% in favour of home rule within Denmark.[1]
The chairman of the Løgting subsequently declared independence on 18 September 1946, but this was not recognised either by a majority of the Løgting or the Danish parliament and government. King Christian X of Denmark dissolved the Løgting on 24 September and called for new elections.[2][3] The dissolution of the Løgting was on 8 November followed by the Faroese parliamentary election of 1946 in which the parties in favour of full independence received a total of 5,396 votes while the parties against received a total of 7,488 votes.[4] New negotiations followed, and Denmark granted the Faroe Islands home-rule on 30 March 1948.[2]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Faroe Islands, 14 September 1946: Status Direct Democracy (in English and German)
- ^ a b Faeroe Islands World Statesman
- ^ Steining, Jørgen (1953). "Rigsdagen og Færøerne". In Bomholt, Jul.; Fabricius, Knud; Hjelholt, Holger; Mackeprang, M.; Møller Andr. (eds.). Den danske rigsdag 1849–1949 bind VI (in Danish). Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz Forlag. p. 187.
- ^ Steining, p. 188.
| Løgting elections |
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| Referendums | |
See also: Elections and referendums in Denmark | |
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