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Iceland election: Ruling bloc facing defeat Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition takes early lead
(about 3 hours later)
Voters in Iceland have gone to the polls in elections expected to oust the governing centre-left coalition. Centre-right opposition parties in Iceland have taken an early lead as votes are counted after the country's parliamentary election.
Analysts predict that two centre-right parties will be able to form a new cabinet, pledging to soften unpopular austerity policies. With one-fifth of votes counted, the Independence party has 24.9% and the Progressive party 22.7%.
This would mark a dramatic comeback for the centre-right, which was widely blamed for Iceland's near-economic collapse in 2008. The ruling Social Democrats are trailing with 13.9%.
Their victory could also halt the island nation's EU membership talks. Victory would mark a dramatic comeback for the centre-right, which was widely blamed for Iceland's near-economic collapse in 2008.
Polls opened at 09:00 GMT and closed at 22:00 GMT, with more than 230,000 voters eligible to cast their ballots. A win for the centre-right in the 63-strong parliament could also halt the island nation's EU membership talks.
The conservative Independence Party and their traditional coalition partners the Progressives are expected to secure a majority in the 63-strong parliament. The two parties' leaders, Bjarni Benediktsson and Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, are 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.
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. "We've seen what cutbacks have done for our healthcare system and social benefits ... now it's time to make new investments, create jobs and start growth," said Mr Benediktsson, the Independence party leader.
"We are seeing a record swing in Iceland politics and actually the polls are showing that the two government parties will be losing half of their following from 2009," Prof Olafur Hardarson of the University of Iceland told BBC News. "I'm very pleased," said Mr Gunnlaugsson of the Progressive party, as results came in.
The centre-right camp is promising debt relief and a cut in taxes. The centre-right camp had also promised 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. However, some voters remained unconvinced about the centre-right parties' appeal.
"People seem to have a very short memory," HalldorGudmundsson, 44, told Reuters news agency after casting his ballot. "These are the parties that got us into the mess in the first place."