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People's Alliance (Iceland)
Encyclopedia
The People's Alliance was an electoral alliance in Iceland
from 1956 to 1968 and a political party from 1968 to 1998.
(Alþýðuflokkurinn) was formed in Iceland. In 1930 a split surged, thus forming the Communist Party of Iceland
(Kommúnistaflokkur Íslands), recognised as the Icelandic section of the Communist International. In 1937 the social democrats suffered another split, and the splintergroup unified itself with the communists forming the Socialist Party
(Sósíalistaflokkurinn). However, the new party did not become a ComIntern member as its forerunner.
On April 4, 1956 the Socialist Party created an electoral alliance with yet another left-wing split of the Social Democratic Party led by Hannibal Valdimarsson
, thus forming the People's Alliance with Hannibal as its chairman.
In 1963 National Preservation Party
(Þjóðvarnarflokkurinn) contributed people to the joint electoral alliance, resulting in Gils Guðmundsson, a former member of parliament (1953–1956) for Þjóðvarnarflokkurinn gaining a seat in the parliament, which he held until 1979. In 1968 the People's Alliance officially became a political party. At that time Hannibal left and formed his own Union of Liberals and Leftists
.
In the mid 1960s the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 1000 (1% of the working age population of Iceland).
In 1998 it joined forces with the Social Democrat Party
, the Women's Alliance
(Samtök um kvennalista) and the National Movement (Þjóðvaki) in forming the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), a broad center-left party. However the People's Alliance continues to exist on papers until its debts are paid.
The party was not a communist party, but it used to be the Icelandic referent of the World Communist Movement. It was opposed to NATO and the presence of U.S. military forces in Iceland. It was also opposed to Icelandic membership of the European Union
and the EEA
agreement in 1993 between the EFTA
and the EU, Iceland being a member of EFTA.
Some members of the People's Alliance did not conciliate the forming of the Alliance, including some MP
s of the party, and formed the Left-Green Movement
(Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð), a socialist-green party, in 1999. The first chairman of the People's Alliance was Ragnar Arnalds
. The existent president of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
, was chairman of the party from 1987 to 1995 after joining it coming from Union of Liberal and Leftist after he broke away from the Progressive Party (Iceland)
.
It participated in 5 coalition governments from 1956 to 1991, beginning in Hermann Jónasson's last government 1956-1958, then in both of Ólafur Jóhannesson
's governments 1in 1971-1974 and in 1978-1979, then in Gunnar Thoroddsen
's only government 1980-1983 and finally in Steingrímur Hermannsson
's latter government in 1988-1991.
The youth league of the People's Alliance was known as ÆFAB.
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...
from 1956 to 1968 and a political party from 1968 to 1998.
History
In 1916 the Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (Iceland)
The Social Democratic Party was an Icelandic Political Party based on social-democratic ideas. It was founded in 1916 as the political representation of the trade unions of Iceland....
(Alþýðuflokkurinn) was formed in Iceland. In 1930 a split surged, thus forming the Communist Party of Iceland
Communist Party of Iceland
The Communist Party of Iceland was a political party in Iceland from 1930 to 1938.-History:In the early 1920s a group of young militants of the Social Democratic Party came into contact with the international communist movement. Their ideology and that of their party leader, was quickly growing...
(Kommúnistaflokkur Íslands), recognised as the Icelandic section of the Communist International. In 1937 the social democrats suffered another split, and the splintergroup unified itself with the communists forming the Socialist Party
Popular Unity Party - Socialist Party
Sameiningarflokkur alþýðu – Sósíalistaflokkurinn , generally referred to as Sósíalistaflokkurinn was an Icelandic political party which functioned from 1938 to 1968, when the Alþýðubandalagið party was created.-History:It was formed through the merger of the Communist Party of Iceland and another...
(Sósíalistaflokkurinn). However, the new party did not become a ComIntern member as its forerunner.
On April 4, 1956 the Socialist Party created an electoral alliance with yet another left-wing split of the Social Democratic Party led by Hannibal Valdimarsson
Hannibal Valdimarsson
Hannibal Valdimarsson was a politician from Iceland. He was a member of Parliament from 1946–1959 for the Social Democratic Party and People's Alliance and then from 1963–1974 for the People's Alliance, as an independent and also the Union of Liberals and Leftists...
, thus forming the People's Alliance with Hannibal as its chairman.
In 1963 National Preservation Party
National Preservation Party
National Preservation Party a political party in Iceland. Founded and supported on March 15, 1953 by the same group that edited the weekly paper Frjáls Þjóð. The party was against Icelandic membership in NATO and demanded a referendum. The party was also against the presence of the United States...
(Þjóðvarnarflokkurinn) contributed people to the joint electoral alliance, resulting in Gils Guðmundsson, a former member of parliament (1953–1956) for Þjóðvarnarflokkurinn gaining a seat in the parliament, which he held until 1979. In 1968 the People's Alliance officially became a political party. At that time Hannibal left and formed his own Union of Liberals and Leftists
Union of Liberals and Leftists
Union of Liberals and Leftists was a left political party in Iceland, founded by Hannibal Valdimarsson and his supporters in 1969. It joined Ólafur Jóhannesson's first government in 1971-1974, with two ministers. It was against the American base in Iceland...
.
In the mid 1960s the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 1000 (1% of the working age population of Iceland).
In 1998 it joined forces with the Social Democrat Party
Social Democratic Party (Iceland)
The Social Democratic Party was an Icelandic Political Party based on social-democratic ideas. It was founded in 1916 as the political representation of the trade unions of Iceland....
, the Women's Alliance
Women's List
The Women's List was a feminist party in Iceland that took part in national politics from 1983 to 1998, gaining some seats in Alþingi. In 1998 it merged with two other political parties to form the Social Democratic Alliance, but many of its members refused to participate in that party and joined...
(Samtök um kvennalista) and the National Movement (Þjóðvaki) in forming the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), a broad center-left party. However the People's Alliance continues to exist on papers until its debts are paid.
The party was not a communist party, but it used to be the Icelandic referent of the World Communist Movement. It was opposed to NATO and the presence of U.S. military forces in Iceland. It was also opposed to Icelandic membership of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and the EEA
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
agreement in 1993 between the EFTA
EFTA
EFTA may refer to:* European Family Therapy Association, an NGO.* European Fair Trade Association, an association of eleven Fair Trade importers in nine European countries....
and the EU, Iceland being a member of EFTA.
Some members of the People's Alliance did not conciliate the forming of the Alliance, including some MP
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,...
s of the party, and formed 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...
(Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð), a socialist-green party, in 1999. The first chairman of the People's Alliance was Ragnar Arnalds
Ragnar Arnalds
Ragnar Arnalds is a former Icelandic MP and twice cabinet minister. He studied literature and philosophy in Sweden from 1959 to 1961 and graduated with a law degree from the University of Iceland in 1968. He was editor of Frjáls Þjóð in 1960.Arnalds served as a Minister of Education and...
. The existent president of Iceland, 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...
, was chairman of the party from 1987 to 1995 after joining it coming from Union of Liberal and Leftist after he broke away from the Progressive Party (Iceland)
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...
.
It participated in 5 coalition governments from 1956 to 1991, beginning in Hermann Jónasson's last government 1956-1958, then in both of Ólafur Jóhannesson
Ólafur Jóhannesson
Ólafur Jóhannesson was the fifteenth Prime Minister of Iceland for the Progressive Party on two occasions. He was a member of the Progressive Party, serving as party chairman during the 1980s.-Career:...
's governments 1in 1971-1974 and in 1978-1979, then in Gunnar Thoroddsen
Gunnar Thoroddsen
Gunnar Thoroddsen was Prime Minister of Iceland from 8 February 1980 to 26 May 1983. Gunnar is the youngest man ever elected to the Althing, Iceland's Parliament. He was 23 years old when he was elected as MP in 1934. He served as an Ambassador of Iceland in Denmark from 1965 to 1969 when he ran...
's only government 1980-1983 and finally in Steingrímur Hermannsson
Steingrímur Hermannsson
Steingrímur Hermannsson was Prime Minister of Iceland.-Early childhood:Steingrímur's father was Hermann Jónasson, another former Prime Minister. Being the son a prominent official, Steingrímur enjoyed a relatively care-free upbringing in a country stricken by the Great Depression...
's latter government in 1988-1991.
The youth league of the People's Alliance was known as ÆFAB.
Elections
| Alþingiskosningar | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | % of votes | seats |
| 1956 | 19,2 | 8 |
| 1959 (June) | 15,3 | 7 |
| 1959 (October) | 16,0 | 10 |
| 1963 | 16,0 | 9 |
| 1967 | 17,6 | 10 |
| 1971 | 17,1 | 10 |
| 1974 | 18,3 | 11 |
| 1978 | 22,9 | 14 |
| 1979 | 19,7 | 11 |
| 1983 | 17,3 | 10 |
| 1987 | 13,3 | 8 |
| 1991 | 14,4 | 9 |
| 19951 | 14,3 | 9 |
| 1 Alþýðubandalag og Indepentent Candidates | ||