Reykjavík Grapevine - 19.05.2006, Side 7

Sveinn Birkir Björnsson gives us Grapevine’s Government Guide
Grapevine’s City Council Guide
Who They Are and How They Vote
The Leftist-Green Party (Vinstrihreyfingin-
Grænt Framboð)
Guiding principles: Far-left, pro-environmental, anti-NATO, feminist.
Mayoral candidate: Svandís Svavarsdóttir
Current number of seats on city council: 2
Registered members: about 1,400
Strange but true: Mayoral candidate, Svandís Svavarsdóttir is the daughter of
former minister and leading left figure Svavar Gestsson.
Website: www.vg.is
E-mail: vg@vg.is
Tel.: 552-8872
Address: Pósthólf 175, 121 Reykjavík
The Social Democratic Party
(Samfylkingin)
Guiding principles: Left-centrist, social-democratic
Mayoral candidate: Dagur B. Eggertsson
Number of seats on city council: 4
Registered members: about 20,000
Strange but true: Mayoral candidate Dagur B. Eggertsson wrote a two
volume biography of former Progressive Party chairman Steingrímur
Hermannsson.
Website: www.samfylking.is
E-mail: samfylking@samfylking.is
Tel.: 414-2200
Address: Hallveigarstígur 1 (2nd Floor), Box 160, 101 Reykjavík
The Progressive Party
(Framsóknarflokkurinn)
Guiding principles: Right-centrist, pro-EU, pro-heavy industry; believes in
fewer economic and environmental regulations while strengthening the social
system.
Mayoral candidate: Björn Ingi Hrafnsson
Number of seats on city council: 2
Registered members: about 10,000
Strange but true: Björn Ingi Hrafnsson, the party’s primary candidate, was
one of the most vocal supporters of the Iraq invasion.
Website: www.framsokn.is
E-mail: framsokn@framsokn.is
Tel.: 540-4300
Address: Hverfisgata 33 (2nd Floor), 101 Reykjavík
The Liberal Party (Frjálslyndir)
Guiding principles: Right-centrist, emphasising
the rights of fishermen and increasing government
transparency.
Mayoral candidate: Ólafur F. Magnússon
Number of seats on city council: 1
Registered members: about 2,000
Strange but true: Ólafur F. Magnússon, the party’s primary candidate, was a
member of city council as a representative for the Independence Party.
Website: www.frjalslyndir.is
E-mail: xf@xf.is
Tel.: 552-2600
Address: Aðalstræti 9, 101 Reykjavík
The Independence Party
(Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn)
Guiding principles: Right wing, believes in further privatisation in all areas
of society; anti-EU
Mayoral candidate: Vilhjálmur Þ. Vilhjálmsson
Number of seats on city council: 6
Registered members: about 34,000
Strange but true: Mayoral candidate Vilhjálmur Þ. Vilhjálmsson has
confessed on his homepage that he is easily brought to tears.
Website: www.xd.is
E-mail: xd@xd.is
Tel.: 515-1700
Address: Háaleitisbraut 1, 105 Reykjavík
What is the key issue the citizens of Reykjavík will be voting on in the
upcoming elections?
And this issue’s question is . . .
airport. The location of the airport
is the biggest city planning and
transportation issue facing us.
There was no real conclusion from
the 2001 election. We are a clear
alternative in this matter.” Ólafur
F. Magnússon, primary candidate.
Independence Party: “I think
the voters must decide whether
they want a vote for one united
group with a clear vision and
lucid policies or if they want
to bring in another coalition
concoction under the guidance of
Dagur Eggertsson.” Vilhjálmur Þ.
Vilhjálmsson, primary candidate.
service for the people.” Dagur B.
Eggertsson, primary candidate.
Progressive Party: “In my
opinion, with the way politics have
been developing, the voters should
consider whether they would like
one party to be in majority on city
council. They would not want one
party to be in majority in parliament,
and only have to consider narrow
party interests. People have a
good experience with coalition
governments, and the people of
Reykjavík have a good experience
with coalitions on city council.” Björn
Ingi Hrafnsson, primary candidate.
Liberal Party: “The key issue is
that this is a second chance to vote
on the location of the Reykjavík
Leftist-Green Party: “The
big issue in this election is
that the citizens of Reykjavík
must guard City Hall from the
government. It is imperative that
the parties sitting in majority on
Parliament do not claim power in
Reykjavík as well. There are many
important issues for the citizens of
Reykjavík that have been stranded
by the government.” Svandís
Svavarsdóttir, primary candidate.
Social Democratic Party: “The
key questions regard development
and services and how we want our
city to be run. We put an emphasis
on moving the administrative power
closer to the citizens. We want to
be responsible but still invest in
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