Icelandic parliamentary election, 2007
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Iceland
ic general elections were held on 12 May 2007. In this election, the public elected 63 members of parliament
using proportional representation
from six constituencies to the Alþingi. Six parties participated in the elections: the two parties of the then government coalition, the right wing
Independence Party
and the centrist
Progressive Party
, and the opposition parties in the Alþingi, the Social Democratic Alliance, the Left-Green Movement
and the Liberal Party; one new party, the environmentalist
Iceland's Movement – Living Land
also participated in the elections. The Fighting Union, which is in favour of disabled and senior citizens' rights, had failed to present lists of candidates in due time in five out of six constituencies, and therefore decided to withdraw from the elections.
The then governing parties got a razor thin majority, 32 members of the Parliament against the opposition's 31, due to considerable losses for the Progressive Party, which had the worst election in its more than 90-year history. Major outcomes of the elections were also the considerable strengthening of the Left-Green Movement, was the election's big winner, and the failure of Iceland's Movement – Living Land to clear the election threshold
and enter the parliament, though it got 3.3% of the votes. After five days of speculation, it was decided on 17 May that the government would resign and the 12-year long coalition between Independence Party and Progressive would end. Later the same day, the leaders of the Independence Party and of the largest opposition party, the Social Democratic Alliance, Geir H. Haarde, the outgoing Prime Minister
, and Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir
, former mayor of Reykjavík
, decided to try to form a new majority coalition. Haarde formally resigned on 18 May on behalf of his outgoing government. Simultaneously, he was assigned by the President of Iceland
, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
, the mandate to form a new majority coalition. The coalition meetings between the Independence Party and the Alliance were held in Reykjavík and at Þingvellir
, where Alþingi was established in the year of 930. On 22 May the two parties reached an agreement, and the new government
took over on 24 May. The ministers are as follows:
The Government enjoys a vast majority on Alþingi, 43 out of 63 members supporting it. In the government's manifesto it is stated that it will focus on children, the elderly and the environment. The government will lower taxes and raise benefits and invest heavily in education and transportation. The Social Democratic Alliance is more environmentalist and pro-EU and it stands against the war in Iraq and Iceland's participation
in the "Coalition of the Willing
". Nevertheless, no action was announced to stop or reconsider the building of large-scale industrial complexes such as aluminium smelters and in the development of new power plants, especially hydropower stations, or the country's participation in the war. A commission, though, to weigh the pros and cons of European Union membership was set up, but without a clear mandate.
On 23 May the chairman of the Progressive Party, Jón Sigurðsson
, the outgoing Minister of Industries and Commerce, announced his resignation, due to poor results in the election. The vice chairman, Guðni Ágústsson
, the outgoing Minister of Agriculture, took over the post.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic general elections were held on 12 May 2007. In this election, the public elected 63 members of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
using proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
from six constituencies to the Alþingi. Six parties participated in the elections: the two parties of the then government coalition, the right wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
Independence Party
Independence Party (Iceland)
The Independence Party is a centre-right political party in Iceland. Liberal conservative and Eurosceptic, it is the second-largest party in the Althing, with sixteen seats. The chairman of the party is Bjarni Benediktsson and vice chairman is Ólöf Nordal....
and the centrist
Nordic Agrarian parties
The Nordic agrarian parties, or Nordic Centre parties, are agrarian political parties that belong to a political tradition peculiar to the Nordic countries...
Progressive Party
Progressive Party (Iceland)
The Progressive Party is an agrarian, liberal and centrist party in Iceland. The party is a member of the Liberal International. Current chairman of the party is Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. He was elected on January 18, 2009. His predecessor was Valgerður Sverrisdóttir, who only served as...
, and the opposition parties in the Alþingi, the Social Democratic Alliance, the Left-Green Movement
Left-Green Movement
The Left-Green Movement is a left-wing political party in Iceland.It was founded in 1999 by a few members of Alþingi who did not approve of the planned merger of the left parties in Iceland that resulted in the founding of the Social Democratic Alliance...
and the Liberal Party; one new party, the environmentalist
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
Iceland's Movement – Living Land
Icelandic Movement - Living Land
Icelandic Movement – Living Country was a green political party in Iceland founded by the reporter and environmentalist Ómar Ragnarsson and Sigurlín Margrét Sigurðardóttir on 23 March 2007 to contest the 2007 parliamentary election...
also participated in the elections. The Fighting Union, which is in favour of disabled and senior citizens' rights, had failed to present lists of candidates in due time in five out of six constituencies, and therefore decided to withdraw from the elections.
The then governing parties got a razor thin majority, 32 members of the Parliament against the opposition's 31, due to considerable losses for the Progressive Party, which had the worst election in its more than 90-year history. Major outcomes of the elections were also the considerable strengthening of the Left-Green Movement, was the election's big winner, and the failure of Iceland's Movement – Living Land to clear the election threshold
Election threshold
In party-list proportional representation systems, an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes, either nationally or within a particular district, to obtain any seats in the parliament...
and enter the parliament, though it got 3.3% of the votes. After five days of speculation, it was decided on 17 May that the government would resign and the 12-year long coalition between Independence Party and Progressive would end. Later the same day, the leaders of the Independence Party and of the largest opposition party, the Social Democratic Alliance, Geir H. Haarde, the outgoing Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Iceland
The Prime Minister of Iceland is Iceland's head of government. The prime minister is appointed formally by the President and exercises executive authority along with the cabinet subject to parliamentary support....
, and Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir
Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir
Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir is an Icelandic politician from the Social Democratic Alliance, formerly Minister for Foreign Affairs 2007–2009 and leader of the Alliance 2005–2009.-Education:...
, former mayor of Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, decided to try to form a new majority coalition. Haarde formally resigned on 18 May on behalf of his outgoing government. Simultaneously, he was assigned by the President of Iceland
President of Iceland
The President of Iceland is Iceland's elected head of state. The president is elected to a four-year term by universal adult suffrage and has limited powers. The president is not the head of government; the Prime Minister of Iceland is the head of government. There have been five presidents since...
, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth and current President of Iceland. He has served as President since 1996; he was unopposed in 2000, re-elected for a third term in 2004, and re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2008. He is the longest-serving left-wing president in the history of...
, the mandate to form a new majority coalition. The coalition meetings between the Independence Party and the Alliance were held in Reykjavík and at Þingvellir
Þingvellir
|Thing]] Fields) is a place in Bláskógabyggð in southwestern Iceland, near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It is the site of a rift...
, where Alþingi was established in the year of 930. On 22 May the two parties reached an agreement, and the new government
Cabinet of Iceland
The Cabinet of Iceland is the chief executive body of the Republic of Iceland. It consists of the Prime Minister of Iceland and the cabinet ministers....
took over on 24 May. The ministers are as follows:
- Geir H. Haarde, Prime Minister (IP)
- Ingibjörg Sólrún GísladóttirIngibjörg Sólrún GísladóttirIngibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir is an Icelandic politician from the Social Democratic Alliance, formerly Minister for Foreign Affairs 2007–2009 and leader of the Alliance 2005–2009.-Education:...
, Minister of Foreign Affairs (SDA) - Árni M. Mathiesen, Minister of Finance (IP)
- Einar K. Guðfinnsson, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture (IP)
- Össur SkarphéðinssonÖssur SkarphéðinssonÖssur Skarphéðinsson is an Icelandic politician who has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since February 2009.Össur matriculated from the Reykjavík Grammar School in 1973, and gained a BS in Biology from the University of Iceland in 1979, and a doctorate in physiology from the University of East...
, Minister of Industries (SDA) - Björgvin G. SigurðssonBjörgvin G. SigurðssonBjörgvin G. Sigurðsson is an Icelandic politician, representing the Social Democratic Alliance. He became Iceland's first Minister of Business Affairs when the new ministry was split off from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce on 24 May 2007...
, Minister of Commerce (SDA) - Björn BjarnasonBjörn BjarnasonBjörn Bjarnason is an Icelandic politician. His father was Bjarni Benediktsson, Prime Minister of Iceland, Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs and Mayor of Reykjavík....
, Minister of Justice (IP) - Þorgerður Katrín GunnarsdóttirÞorgerður Katrín GunnarsdóttirÞorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir is an Icelandic politician and former vice-chairman of the Independence Party 2005–2010. She was the Minister of Education, Science and Culture from 31 December 2003 to 1 February 2009 and has been a member of the Althing since 1999...
, Minister of Education (IP) - Jóhanna SigurðardóttirJóhanna SigurðardóttirJóhanna Sigurðardóttir , , is the Prime Minister of Iceland. Many years a politician, she was previously Iceland's Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security from 1987–1994 and 2007–2009. She has been a member of the Althing for Reykjavík constituencies since 1978, winning re-election on eight...
, Minister of Social Affairs (SDA) - Guðlaugur Þór ÞórðarsonGuðlaugur Þór ÞórðarsonGuðlaugur Þór Þórðarson is an Icelandic politician. He has been a member of the Althing for the Independence Party since 2003 and served as the Minister of Health from 24 May 2007 to 1 February 2009...
, Minister of Health (IP) - Kristján L. Möller, Minister of Transportation (SDA)
- Þórunn SveinbjarnardóttirÞórunn SveinbjarnardóttirÞórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir is an Icelandic politician. A graduate of the University of Iceland and the Bologna Center of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, she was Iceland's Minister for the Environment from 24 May 2007 to 2009...
, Minister of Environment (SDA)
The Government enjoys a vast majority on Alþingi, 43 out of 63 members supporting it. In the government's manifesto it is stated that it will focus on children, the elderly and the environment. The government will lower taxes and raise benefits and invest heavily in education and transportation. The Social Democratic Alliance is more environmentalist and pro-EU and it stands against the war in Iraq and Iceland's participation
Military of Iceland
Icelands defences consist of the Icelandic Coast Guard which patrols Icelandic waters and airspace and other services such as the National Commissioner's National Security and Special Forces Units....
in the "Coalition of the Willing
Coalition of the willing
The term coalition of the willing is a post-1990 political phrase used to collectively describe participants in military or military-humanitarian interventions for which the United Nations Security Council cannot agree to mount a full UN peacekeeping operation...
". Nevertheless, no action was announced to stop or reconsider the building of large-scale industrial complexes such as aluminium smelters and in the development of new power plants, especially hydropower stations, or the country's participation in the war. A commission, though, to weigh the pros and cons of European Union membership was set up, but without a clear mandate.
On 23 May the chairman of the Progressive Party, Jón Sigurðsson
Jón Sigurðsson (minister)
Jón Sigurðsson is an Icelandic politician. He was brought in as Minister of Industry and Commerce for the Progressive Party when Halldór Ásgrímsson abandoned politics. He was later elected party chairman from 2006 to 2007 but resigned after he failed to win a seat in the Althing...
, the outgoing Minister of Industries and Commerce, announced his resignation, due to poor results in the election. The vice chairman, Guðni Ágústsson
Guðni Ágústsson
Guðni Ágústsson is a former Icelandic politician who was Chairman of the Progressive Party from 2007 until 17 November 2008, when he unexpectedly resigned, both as chairman of his party and as MP. He was a member of the Althing 1987 – 2008, for the Southern Constituency from 1987 to 2003 and for...
, the outgoing Minister of Agriculture, took over the post.