The heterogeneous coalition in power in Iceland since November 2021 dissolved on Sunday, October 13, dragged down by persistent political disagreements, Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson announced, proposing new elections for the end of November. Strong differences on issues such as foreign policy, the management of asylum seekers or energy policy have increased tensions in recent months within the coalition, Benediktsson told the press.
The leader of the Independence Party (conservative), the first in parliament, announced that he will meet on Monday with the Icelandic president, Halla Tomasdottir, to propose dissolving parliament and calling legislative elections until the end of November.
The coalition is made up of the Independence Party, the Left-Green Movement and the Progress Party (center-right). Points of disagreement “were less discussed during the last election than they should be today”said Mr. Benediktsson, highlighting “How different is the vision of the Movement (Left-Greens) for the future from the one I want to defend”.
“A common vision”
“It is better for the government to have a common vision”he told online media site Visir. “It’s disappointing when projects fail or circumstances change”he added.
Bjarni Benediktsson, one of Iceland’s most experienced politicians, was finance minister, then foreign minister, before becoming prime minister. He said he has the strong support of his party and plans to run in the November elections.
According to a Gallup poll published on October 1, the coalition government only has the support of a quarter of voters (24.6%), the lowest score ever recorded by the institute for an Icelandic government in 30 years. The three coalition parties combined come in behind the Social Democrats, who are credited with 26.1%.
Benediktsson took over as prime minister in April 2024, succeeding Katrin Jakobsdottir of the Left-Green Movement, who resigned to run for the presidency, which she did not win. In 2021, the three parties won 38 of the 63 seats in Parliament, while they had only held 33 since the previous elections in 2017. The Left-Green Movement emerged weakened (8 seats compared to the previous 11), while its right-wing Both partners had recorded good results.
