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Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition wins election | Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition wins election |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Centre-right opposition parties in Iceland are set for a return to power with all the votes counted after Saturday's parliamentary election. | |
The Independence party polled 26.7% and the Progressive party 24.4%, putting them on track to win 38 of the 63 seats. | |
The ruling Social Democrats' share of the vote dropped to below 13%. | |
It is a dramatic comeback for the parties widely blamed for Iceland's economic meltdown in 2008. | It is a dramatic comeback for the parties widely blamed for Iceland's economic meltdown 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. | "The Independence party has been called to duty again," said leader Bjarni Benediktsson, who looks likely to become prime minister. |
"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. | |
But the party seen as the major winner of the election was the Progressives, whose vote almost doubled. "I'm very pleased," said leader Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson. | |
The centre-right camp has promised debt relief and a cut in taxes. | The centre-right camp has promised debt relief and a cut in taxes. |
The two leading parties, which will now enter coalition negotiations, are also seen as Eurosceptic, and their poll success could slow down Iceland's efforts to become a member of the European Union. | |
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. |
Two new parties performed particularly well: Bright Future, which won six seats, and the computer activist Pirate party, with three. | |
The Social Democrats saw their share of the vote fall dramatically to 12.9% (nine seats) while the Left-Greens' vote fell to 10.9% (seven seats). | |
Social Democrat leader Arni Pall Arnason, while disappointed, refused to acknowledge that the two centre-right parties had been given a major vote of confidence. "Their democratic mandate to change society is absolutely zero," he said. |