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Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition 'wins election' | Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition 'wins election' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Centre-right opposition parties in Iceland are set for a return to power with most votes counted after Saturday's parliamentary election. | Centre-right opposition parties in Iceland are set for a return to power with most votes counted after Saturday's parliamentary election. |
With two-thirds of votes tallied, the Independence party had 26.5% and the Progressive party 22%, putting them on track for nearly 40 of the 63 seats. | |
The ruling Social Democrats are trailing with 13.5%. | The ruling Social Democrats are trailing with 13.5%. |
It is a dramatic comeback for the parties widely blamed for Iceland's near-economic collapse in 2008. | It is a dramatic comeback for the parties widely blamed for Iceland's near-economic collapse in 2008. |
Iceland saw its prosperity evaporate, as the country's three banks collapsed, and the Social Democrats came to power a year later, with a programme of austerity tailored to international lenders' requirements. | Iceland saw its prosperity evaporate, as the country's three banks collapsed, and the Social Democrats came to power a year later, with a programme of austerity tailored to international lenders' requirements. |
'New investments' | 'New investments' |
"The Independence party has been called to duty again," said leader Bjarni Benediktsson, who looks likely to become prime minister in the new government. | "The Independence party has been called to duty again," said leader Bjarni Benediktsson, who looks likely to become prime minister in the new government. |
"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," he said. | "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," he said. |
"I'm very pleased," said Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, leader of the Progressive party, as results came in. | "I'm very pleased," said Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, leader of the Progressive party, as results came in. |
The centre-right camp had promised debt relief and a cut in taxes. | The centre-right camp had 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. |
Many Icelanders have become frustrated with the outgoing Social Democrat government, saying that its austerity policies were too painful. | Many Icelanders have become frustrated with the outgoing Social Democrat government, saying that its austerity policies were too painful. |
However, some voters remained unconvinced about the centre-right parties' appeal. | However, some voters remained unconvinced about the centre-right parties' appeal. |
"People seem to have a very short memory," Halldor Gudmundsson, 44, told Reuters news agency after casting his ballot. "These are the parties that got us into the mess in the first place." | "People seem to have a very short memory," Halldor Gudmundsson, 44, told Reuters news agency after casting his ballot. "These are the parties that got us into the mess in the first place." |
A number of new parties - including the computer activist Pirate party - appear unlikely to gain enough votes to enter parliament. | A number of new parties - including the computer activist Pirate party - appear unlikely to gain enough votes to enter parliament. |