Mayor resigns to pursue life as a sailor

Pauli Trond Petersen is standing down after almost a decade as mayor of Vestmanna.

Petersen is currently on a two-month leave from his mayoral term, a period which he has spent out at sea on board seine vessel Vestmenningur.

“My two-months are up, and it’s decision time for me now: do I want to go back to being a mayor or do I want the seafaring life?” the 48-year-old said over the phone yesterday.

“It was a tough choice. I have thoroughly enjoyed my two decades in politics, but it’s a 24/7 job and it can be draining. In the end I decided I wanted to try something new. I am prioritising my personal interests over my career ambitions.”

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Petersen adds that he will stay on as a regular member of the town council until the end of this term after which he will not stand for re-election.

Bjørg á Rógvi, Vestmanna’s deputy mayor, has been the acting mayor during Petersen’s two-month leave of absence.

She has declined to comment on whether she is prepared to take the reins as mayor.

Vestmanna Town Council issued the following statement yesterday: “Mr Petersen has requested to be released from his position as mayor. The Town Council will be meeting shortly to discuss this new situation.”

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

Translated by prosa.fo.

More Faroese News in English.