Aksel V. Johannesen

Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen (born 8 November 1972 in Klaksvík) is a Faroese lawyer and politician for the Social Democratic Party (Javnaðarflokkurin) and a former footballer. He served as prime minister of the Faroe Islands[1] from 2015 to 2019.

Aksel V. Johannesen
Aksel V. Johannesen, 2015
Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands
In office 15 September 2015 – 16 September 2019
Deputy	Høgni Hoydal
Preceded by	Kaj Leo Johannesen
Succeeded by	Bárður á Steig Nielsen
Leader of the Social Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 March 2011
Preceded by	Jóannes Eidesgaard
Deputy Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands
In office 6 April 2011 – 14 November 2011
Prime Minister	Kaj Leo Johannesen
Preceded by	Jacob Vestergaard
Succeeded by	Annika Olsen
Minister of Finance
In office 21 February 2011 – 14 November 2011
Prime Minister	Kaj Leo Johannesen
Preceded by	Jóannes Eidesgaard
Succeeded by	Jørgen Niclasen
Minister of Health
In office 16 July 2009 – 21 February 2011
Prime Minister	Kaj Leo Johannesen
Preceded by	Hans Pauli Strøm
Succeeded by	John Johannessen
Member of Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 October 2011
Personal details
Born	Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen (1972-11-08) 8 November 1972 Klaksvík, Faroe Islands
Political party	Social Democratic Party (Javnaðarflokkurin)
Spouse(s)	Katrin Apol
Children	3
Parents	Johild and Vilhelm Johannesen
Alma mater	University of Copenhagen
Association football career Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position(s) 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

Political career

At the 2008 Faroese general election Aksel Johannesen was the party's 1st suppleant to the Løgting (Faroese Parliament), 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 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.[4]

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 (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". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
3. ft.dk
4. Samuelsen, Ingi (September 2, 2015). "Aksel breaks all records". Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015 – via www.portal.fo.
5. kvf.fo - Dagur og vika 14. September 2015
6. Logting.fo, Aksel V. Johannesen