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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iceland election: Ruling bloc facing defeat | Iceland election: Ruling bloc facing defeat |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Voters in Iceland are going to the polls in elections expected to oust the governing centre-left coalition. | |
| Analysts predict that two centre-right parties will be able to form a new cabinet, pledging to soften unpopular austerity policies. | Analysts predict that two centre-right parties will be able to form a new cabinet, pledging to soften unpopular austerity policies. |
| This would mark a dramatic comeback for the centre-right, which was widely blamed for Iceland's near-economic collapse in 2008. | This would mark a dramatic comeback for the centre-right, which was widely blamed for Iceland's near-economic collapse in 2008. |
| Their victory could also halt the island nation's EU membership talks. | Their victory could also halt the island nation's EU membership talks. |
| Polls opened at 09:00 GMT and are due to close at 22:00 GMT, with more than 230,000 voters eligible to cast their ballots. | |
| The conservative Independence Party and their traditional coalition partners the Progressives are expected to secure a majority in the 63-strong parliament. | The conservative Independence Party and their traditional coalition partners the Progressives are expected to secure a majority in the 63-strong parliament. |
| The parties' leaders, Bjarni Benediktsson and Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, are then predicted to compete in a race to succeed the Social Democrat Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, who is retiring from politics. | The parties' leaders, Bjarni Benediktsson and Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, are then predicted to compete in a race to succeed the Social Democrat Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, who is retiring from politics. |
| Opinion polls suggest the main governing Social Democratic Alliance will suffer a heavy defeat. | Opinion polls suggest the main governing Social Democratic Alliance will suffer a heavy defeat. |
| Many Icelanders are frustrated with the current government, saying that its austerity policies are too painful. | Many Icelanders are frustrated with the current government, saying that its austerity policies are too painful. |
| This is despite the fact that Iceland has seen steady growth in recent years amid falling unemployment rates. | This is despite the fact that Iceland has seen steady growth in recent years amid falling unemployment rates. |
| The centre-right camp is promising debt relief and a cut in taxes. | The centre-right camp is promising debt relief and a cut in taxes. |
| The two parties are also seen as Eurosceptic, and their poll success could slow down Iceland's efforts to become a member of the EU. | The two parties are also seen as Eurosceptic, and their poll success could slow down Iceland's efforts to become a member of the EU. |
| The Eurosceptics argue that Iceland already gets most of the benefits of full membership through existing free trade arrangements with the EU and by being part the Schengen visa-free travel zone. | The Eurosceptics argue that Iceland already gets most of the benefits of full membership through existing free trade arrangements with the EU and by being part the Schengen visa-free travel zone. |
| First election results are expected shortly after the polls close. | First election results are expected shortly after the polls close. |