Iceland review - 2016, Page 86

84 ICELAND REVIEW
uals to see an opportunity in living in
Iceland, establishing a family and making
a career for themselves without too much
state interference.” She stresses that even
though it’s important to develop infra-
structures and provide support services
such as healthcare, education and trans-
portation, stability must be maintained.
“We must beware of overexpansion,” she
warns. “To promise to spend billions,
which will neither maintain low inflation
nor pay down interests, is irresponsible.”
Smári does not support the status quo:
“When stability has turned into stag-
nation, it goes without saying that not
everyone is content.”
A coalition of the Pirates and the
Independence Party seems unlikely but
there are many other possibilities for a
new government. With support for par-
ties still fluctuating days before the elec-
tion, it’s difficult to predict how it will
turn out. But three parties in addition
to the established Fjórflokkurinn might
earn seats in parliament and many of
the veterans be replaced by bright-eyed
young MPs. Their approaches may vary,
but they seem sincere about working
towards a brighter future for all. u
P O L I T I C S
From left: Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir (Independence Party), Páll Marís Pálsson (Progressive Party), Heiða Guðný
Ásgeirsdóttir (Left-Greens), Inga Björk Bjarnadóttir (Social Democrats), Dagný Rut Haraldsdóttir (Bright Future), Pawel Bartoszek
(Reform Party) and Smári McCarthy (Pirate Party).
ELECTION RESULTS
The Independence Party gained momentum in the final days and
remains by far the largest party in Iceland after the 2016 general
election. Discussions about the formation of the next coalition
government are ongoing.
Independence Party: 29.1 percent, 21 MPs
Left-Green Movement: 15.8 percent, 10 MPs
Pirate Party: 14.4 percent, 10 MPs
Progressive Party: 11.5 percent, 8 MPs
Reform Party: 10.4 percent, 7 MPs
Bright Future: 7.2 percent, 4 MPs
Social Democratic Alliance: 5.8 percent, 3 MPs
Other parties received less than 5 percent and no MPs.
Voter turnout: 79.2 percent
Of our interviewees, Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir (Independence
Party), Smári McCarthy (Pirate Party) and Pawel Bartoszek
(Reform Party) were elected to Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament.