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Iceland election: Pirate Party looks to make gains | Iceland election: Pirate Party looks to make gains |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Parliamentary elections are being held in Iceland, with an anti-establishment party set to make gains. | Parliamentary elections are being held in Iceland, with an anti-establishment party set to make gains. |
Polls show the Pirate Party could help topple the centre-right government and form a majority coalition with other opposition parties. | Polls show the Pirate Party could help topple the centre-right government and form a majority coalition with other opposition parties. |
The early election was triggered by the resignation of Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson in April. | The early election was triggered by the resignation of Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson in April. |
He stepped down in the wake of the leaked Panama Papers which revealed the offshore assets of high-profile people. | He stepped down in the wake of the leaked Panama Papers which revealed the offshore assets of high-profile people. |
Polling stations across the island opened at 07:00 GMT and are due to close at 20:00 GMT, with first results expected shortly afterwards. | |
The Pirate Party, which was founded in 2012, has said it could be looking to form a coalition with three left-wing and centrist parties. | |
Iceland is currently governed by a coalition cabinet of the Independent and Progressive parties. | |
The Pirate Party has won support from many in the wake of Iceland's 2008 financial crisis and the Panama Papers' revelations earlier this year. | The Pirate Party has won support from many in the wake of Iceland's 2008 financial crisis and the Panama Papers' revelations earlier this year. |
The party wants more political transparency, more freedom from copyright restrictions on the internet and more protection of citizens' data. | The party wants more political transparency, more freedom from copyright restrictions on the internet and more protection of citizens' data. |
The party also calls for free healthcare for all Icelanders and "active public participation and supervision of those in power". | The party also calls for free healthcare for all Icelanders and "active public participation and supervision of those in power". |
Opponents, however, say the Pirate Party's lack of political experience could scare off investors and destabilise Iceland's recovering economy. | Opponents, however, say the Pirate Party's lack of political experience could scare off investors and destabilise Iceland's recovering economy. |
Recent polls indicate that the governing coalition of the Independence and Progressive parties stands to lose its current majority in Iceland's parliament, the Althing. | Recent polls indicate that the governing coalition of the Independence and Progressive parties stands to lose its current majority in Iceland's parliament, the Althing. |
Observers say the Pirates could form a majority with opposition parties the Social Democratic Alliance, the Left-Green Movement and Bright Future. | Observers say the Pirates could form a majority with opposition parties the Social Democratic Alliance, the Left-Green Movement and Bright Future. |
The leaked Panama Papers - from Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca - showed Mr Gunnlaugsson owned an offshore firm with his wife. | The leaked Panama Papers - from Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca - showed Mr Gunnlaugsson owned an offshore firm with his wife. |
Mr Gunnlaugsson says he sold his shares to his wife and denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Gunnlaugsson says he sold his shares to his wife and denies any wrongdoing. |