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Iceland elections leave ruling centre-right party in driving seat Iceland elections leave ruling centre-right party in driving seat
(35 minutes later)
Iceland’s incumbent centre-right Independence party was in pole position to try to form a new government after elections on Saturday produced major gains for the anti-establishment Pirate party and its allies, but no outright winner. Iceland’s incumbent Independence party was in pole position to try to form a new government after elections on Saturday produced major gains for the anti-establishment Pirate party and its allies, but no outright winner.
With about 80% of votes counted, the Pirates, founded four years ago by a group of activists, anarchists and former hackers, and their three left-of-centre partners held 27 seats – five short of a majority in the country’s 63-seat parliament. With all votes counted, the Pirates, founded four years ago by a group of activists, anarchists and former hackers, and their three left-of-centre partners held a total of 27 seats – five short of a majority in the country’s 63-seat parliament.
The Independence party won nearly 30% of the vote, significantly more than pre-election polling had predicted, and with its coalition partner of the past three years, the Progressive party, looks set to end up with 29 seats. The centre-right Independence party won nearly 30% of the vote, significantly more than pre-election polling had predicted, and with its coalition partner of the past three years, the Progressive party, ended on 29 seats.
In a campaign dominated in its early stages by deep public discontent with Iceland’s traditional elites and a strong desire for political reform, voters were eventually more persuaded by the Independence party’s pledge to lower taxes and keep Iceland’s economic recovery on track .
“I cannot deny that if the results stay this way … it would be natural that we are a leading party in the next government,” said the leader of the Independence party, Bjarni Benediktsson, one of the its 21 MPs.“I cannot deny that if the results stay this way … it would be natural that we are a leading party in the next government,” said the leader of the Independence party, Bjarni Benediktsson, one of the its 21 MPs.
In a campaign dominated by widespread public discontent with the country’s traditional elites and desire for political reform, the Independence party pledged to lower taxes and keep Iceland’s economic recovery on track. The preliminary results mean the seven MPs from the newly established, liberal Viðreisn or Regeneration party, which split from the Independence party over the issue of Europe earlier this year, could be kingmakers – making generally delicate coalition negotiations even more difficult than usual.
The preliminary results mean the seven MPs from the newly established, liberal Viðreisn or Regeneration party, which split from the Independence party over the issue of Europe earlier this year, could be kingmakers – making coalition negotiations more tricky than usual. The Pirates, riding a wave of public anger at what many voters saw as endemic political corruption laid bare by the 2008 financial crash and April’s Panama Papers scandal, had been predicted to score as high as 20% and possibly even become Iceland’s largest party.
Riding a wave of public anger at what many see as endemic political corruption in the wake of the 2008 financial crash and the Panama Papers scandal in April, the Pirates had been predicted to score as high as 20% and possibly even become Iceland’s largest party. But the party’s co-founder, Birgitta Jónsdóttir, an activist, poet and former WikiLeaks collaborator, said it was satisfied with the result, which saw it finish second equal on 14.5% of the vote and with 10 MPs – more than three times as many as in the previous 2013 elections.
But the party’s co-founder, Birgitta Jónsdóttir, an activist, poet and former WikiLeaks collaborator, said it was satisfied with the result, which saw it finish second equal on more than 14% of the vote and with 10 MPs – more than three times as many as in the previous 2013 elections. “Our internal predictions showed 10 to 15%, so this is at the top of the range,” Jónsdóttir said. “We are a platform for young people, for progressive people who shape and reshape our society … Like Robin Hood, because Robin Hood was a pirate, we want to take the power from the powerful to give it to the people.”
“Our internal predictions showed 10 to 15%, so this is at the top of the range,” Jónsdóttir said. “We are a platform for young people, for progressive people who shape and reshape our society … like Robin Hood, because Robin Hood was a pirate, we want to take the power from the powerful to give it to the people.”
Some of the party’s younger voters, though, were upset. “I’m really sad and I’m really disappointed in our young generation,” said Bylgja Gudjonsdottir, a 22-year-old student. “This is our next generation that is taking the country to the next level. But they keep voting for the criminals we have here.”Some of the party’s younger voters, though, were upset. “I’m really sad and I’m really disappointed in our young generation,” said Bylgja Gudjonsdottir, a 22-year-old student. “This is our next generation that is taking the country to the next level. But they keep voting for the criminals we have here.”
Opponents claimed the Pirates could scare investors and derail an economy still recovering from the the crash, when Iceland’s three biggest banks collapsed owing 11 times the country’s GDP, the Reykjavík stock market fell 97% and the value of the krona halved. Opponents argued the Pirates could scare investors and derail an economy still recovering from the 2008 meltdown, when Iceland’s three biggest banks collapsed owing 11 times the country’s GDP, the Reykjavík stock market fell 97% and the value of the krona halved.
Helped by a huge tourism boom – 2.4 million visitors, nearly seven times the country’s population, are expected in 2017 – economic growth is forecast to reach 4.3% this year, and unemployment has fallen to just over 3%.Helped by a huge tourism boom – 2.4 million visitors, nearly seven times the country’s population, are expected in 2017 – economic growth is forecast to reach 4.3% this year, and unemployment has fallen to just over 3%.
The Pirates campaign for government transparency, individual freedoms and the fight against corruption, and advocate an “unlimited right” for citizens to be involved in political decision-making by both proposing new legislation and deciding on it in national referendums.The Pirates campaign for government transparency, individual freedoms and the fight against corruption, and advocate an “unlimited right” for citizens to be involved in political decision-making by both proposing new legislation and deciding on it in national referendums.
Part of a global anti-establishment trend, the party also favours decriminalising drugs, offering asylum to whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden and relaxing restrictions on the use of the bitcoin virtual currency.Part of a global anti-establishment trend, the party also favours decriminalising drugs, offering asylum to whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden and relaxing restrictions on the use of the bitcoin virtual currency.
Of the Pirate party’s allies, the Left-Green movement also picked up 10 seats, the Social Democrats three, and the centrist Bright Futurefour, according to the preliminary results.Of the Pirate party’s allies, the Left-Green movement also picked up 10 seats, the Social Democrats three, and the centrist Bright Futurefour, according to the preliminary results.
The election was triggered by the resignation of the former prime minister, Sigmundur Davið Gunnlaugsson, who became the first major casualty of the Panama Papers in April after the leaked legal documents revealed he and his wife had millions stashed offshore.The election was triggered by the resignation of the former prime minister, Sigmundur Davið Gunnlaugsson, who became the first major casualty of the Panama Papers in April after the leaked legal documents revealed he and his wife had millions stashed offshore.
The revelations sparked outrage and some of the largest protests in Iceland’s history, forcing the government to replace Gunnlaugsson with the agriculture and fisheries minister, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, and promise fresh elections before the end of the year.The revelations sparked outrage and some of the largest protests in Iceland’s history, forcing the government to replace Gunnlaugsson with the agriculture and fisheries minister, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, and promise fresh elections before the end of the year.
The Regeneration party leader, Benedikt Johannesson, was also among more than 600 Icelanders – including cabinet ministers, bankers and business leaders – shown to have holdings hidden away in offshore accounts.The Regeneration party leader, Benedikt Johannesson, was also among more than 600 Icelanders – including cabinet ministers, bankers and business leaders – shown to have holdings hidden away in offshore accounts.
He has strongly denied having wanted to avoid paying taxes by creating a company in the Seychelles.He has strongly denied having wanted to avoid paying taxes by creating a company in the Seychelles.