Marita Petersen

Life & Legacy

Marita Petersen (Faroese pronunciation: [ˌmɛaɹɪta ˈpʰeːʰtɛɹsɛn]) (née Johansen (Faroese pronunciation: [ˌjoˈhan̥ːsɛn]); 21 October 1940 – 26 August 2001) was the first and to date only female prime minister of the Faroe Islands and the first female speaker of the Løgting (Parliament). She was elected to the Løgting in 1988 for Javnaðarflokkurin (The Social Democratic Party).
In January 1993, she was elected to the post of prime minister, which she held until September 1994. Later, she became chairman of the parliament from 1994 to 1995. She was Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands in a very difficult time with economic crisis. Marita Petersen died of cancer in 2001.