Aksel V. Johannesen

Aksel V. Johannesen
Aksel V. Johannesen, 2015
Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 September 2015
Deputy	Høgni Hoydal
Preceded by	Kaj Leo Johannesen
Leader of the Social Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 2011
Preceded by	Jóannes Eidesgaard
Minister of Finance
In office 21 February 2011 – 14 November 2011
Preceded by	Jóannes Eidesgaard
Succeeded by	Jørgen Niclasen
Minister of Health
In office 16 July 2009 – 21 February 2011
Preceded by	Hans Pauli Strøm
Succeeded by	John Johannessen
Member of Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 October 2011
Personal details
Born	8 November 1972 Klaksvík, Faroe Islands
Political party	Social Democratic Party (Javnaðarflokkurin)
Spouse(s)	Katrin Apol
Children	3
Parents	Johild and Vilhelm Johannesen

Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen (born 8 November 1972 in Klaksvík) is a Faroese lawyer and politician for the Social Democratic Party (Javnaðarflokkurin). He is the current prime minister of the Faroe Islands.^[1]

Political Career

At the Faroese general election, 2008 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 (Javnaðarflokkurin) on 5 March 2011.^[2] 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.^[3] 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. 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.^[4]

Football career

Aksel V. Johannesen

Personal information
Full name	Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen
Date of birth	8 November 1972
Place of birth	Klaksvík
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989-1995	KÍ Klaksvík	38	(3)
Total		38	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Aksel V. Johannesen played football with his hometown club KÍ Klaksvík, mostly as a forward. Although not always an automatic choice in the best team, he made his contribution, as KÍ won the Faroese League in 1991 and National cup in 1994 (Johannesen came in as a substitute in 2-1 final victory against B71 Sandur).

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.^[5]

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,^[6] a former Faroese politician.

References

1. Rana, Hallur av (15 September 2015). "Hetta er nýggja landsstýrið" (in Faroese). in.fo. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
2. j.fo, From the history of the Social Democratic Party of the Faroe Islands
3. ft.dk
4. Samuelsen, Ingi (September 2, 2015). "Aksel breaks all records". Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via www.portal.fo.
5. kvf.fo - Dagur og vika 14. September 2015
6. Logting.fo, Aksel V. Johannesen