Progressive Party (Iceland)
Encyclopedia
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 chairman for two months. Her predecessor, Guðni Ágústsson
, who, as a vice-chairman became chairman when the previous chairman, Jón Sigurðsson
, resigned after the Progressive Party suffered great losses in the 2007 election
. Jón's predecessor as party leader was Halldór Ásgrímsson
, chairman 1994-2006. Halldór was Prime Minister of Iceland 2004-2006.
The party had been in a government coalition partner to the conservative Independence Party
in the period 1995-2007. From 1995 to 2004, it participated in the coalition as the junior partner under the premiership of Independence Party leader Davíð Oddsson
, but the two parties agreed after the 2003 legislative elections that Halldór would become Prime Minister in September 2004. He took office on September 15, but later announced his intention to resign on June 5, 2006 following the party's poor results in the 2006 municipal elections. The coalition remained allied with the Independence Party chairman, Geir H. Haarde, as Prime Minister. The Progressive Party leader Jón Sigurðsson was minister of Industry and Commerce, until a coalition of the Independence Party and the Alliance took over after the elections in 2007.
Though the Progressive Party was originally founded as an agrarian party and still finds most of its support from farmers and fishermen, it has gradually adopted the position of a liberal party in the political spectrum. It was founded in 1916 as a merger of two agrarian parties, the Farmers' Party (Bændaflokkur) and the Independent Farmers (Óháðir bændur).
Throughout Iceland's history as a self-governing and independent nation, the Progressive Party has most often been the second largest political party in the country. It has often joined government coalitions with either the Independence Party
on the right, or with left-wing parties.
In January 2009, it decided to change its party line on joining the European Union
from being opposed to being in favour of EU accession, but with very strong caveats. In retrospect of how these caveats are likely to be considered, the party has now changed it policy to one of firm opposition to EU membership, leaving the Social Democratic Alliance as the only party favoring membership.
, the party dropped five seats, down from twelve. The coalition only held a one-seat majority in the Althing, and the Independence Party formed a government with the Social Democratic Alliance with the deal being signed on May 22, returning the Progressive Party to the opposition. When a left-wing minority government was formed in February 2009, in the wake of the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis, the Progressive Party agreed to defend it from a no-confidence vote, but did not form part of the governing coalition.
In the 2009 elections
, the Progressive Party fared somewhat better, securing 14.8% of the vote, and increasing its number of seats from seven to nine. It remained in opposition, however, with a coalition of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement continuing to govern with an increased majority.
In addition to those, Steingrímur Steinþórsson
headed a government from 1950 to 1953.
Agrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
, liberal and 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...
party in Iceland
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...
. The party is a member of the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
. Current chairman of the party is Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson
Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson
Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson is an Icelandic politician and chairman of the Progressive Party. He was elected to the Althing as the 8th member for the Reykjavík North constituency on 25 April 2009....
. He was elected on January 18, 2009. His predecessor was Valgerður Sverrisdóttir
Valgerður Sverrisdóttir
Valgerður Sverrisdóttir is an Icelandic politician. She has been member of the Althing for the Progressive Party for the Northeast constituency since 1987 and was Chairman of the Progressive Party parliamentary group from 1995 to 1999, Minister of Industry and Commerce from 1999 to 2006, and...
, who only served as chairman for two months. Her predecessor, 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...
, who, as a vice-chairman became chairman when the previous chairman, 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...
, resigned after the Progressive Party suffered great losses in the 2007 election
Icelandic parliamentary election, 2007
The 2007 Icelandic 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...
. Jón's predecessor as party leader was Halldór Ásgrímsson
Halldór Ásgrímsson
Halldór Ásgrímsson is an Icelandic politician, formerly Prime Minister of Iceland from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the Progressive Party from 1994 to 2006.-Education and early life:...
, chairman 1994-2006. Halldór was Prime Minister of Iceland 2004-2006.
The party had been in a government coalition partner to the conservative 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....
in the period 1995-2007. From 1995 to 2004, it participated in the coalition as the junior partner under the premiership of Independence Party leader Davíð Oddsson
Davíð Oddsson
Davíð Oddsson is an Icelandic politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of Iceland, holding office from 1991 to 2004. He also served as Foreign Minister from 2004 to 2005. Previously, he was Mayor of Reykjavík from 1982 to 1991, and he chaired the board of governors of the Central Bank of...
, but the two parties agreed after the 2003 legislative elections that Halldór would become Prime Minister in September 2004. He took office on September 15, but later announced his intention to resign on June 5, 2006 following the party's poor results in the 2006 municipal elections. The coalition remained allied with the Independence Party chairman, Geir H. Haarde, as Prime Minister. The Progressive Party leader Jón Sigurðsson was minister of Industry and Commerce, until a coalition of the Independence Party and the Alliance took over after the elections in 2007.
Though the Progressive Party was originally founded as an agrarian party and still finds most of its support from farmers and fishermen, it has gradually adopted the position of a liberal party in the political spectrum. It was founded in 1916 as a merger of two agrarian parties, the Farmers' Party (Bændaflokkur) and the Independent Farmers (Óháðir bændur).
Throughout Iceland's history as a self-governing and independent nation, the Progressive Party has most often been the second largest political party in the country. It has often joined government coalitions with either the 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....
on the right, or with left-wing parties.
In January 2009, it decided to change its party line on joining 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...
from being opposed to being in favour of EU accession, but with very strong caveats. In retrospect of how these caveats are likely to be considered, the party has now changed it policy to one of firm opposition to EU membership, leaving the Social Democratic Alliance as the only party favoring membership.
Recent elections
In the 2007 electionsIcelandic parliamentary election, 2007
The 2007 Icelandic 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...
, the party dropped five seats, down from twelve. The coalition only held a one-seat majority in the Althing, and the Independence Party formed a government with the Social Democratic Alliance with the deal being signed on May 22, returning the Progressive Party to the opposition. When a left-wing minority government was formed in February 2009, in the wake of the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis, the Progressive Party agreed to defend it from a no-confidence vote, but did not form part of the governing coalition.
In the 2009 elections
Icelandic parliamentary election, 2009
A parliamentary election was held in Iceland on 25 April 2009 following strong pressure from the public as a result of the Icelandic financial crisis...
, the Progressive Party fared somewhat better, securing 14.8% of the vote, and increasing its number of seats from seven to nine. It remained in opposition, however, with a coalition of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement continuing to govern with an increased majority.
Electoral performance
| Election | Number of votes for Progressive | Share of votes | Seats | Outcome of election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | ||||
| 1919 | ||||
| 1923 | ||||
| 1927 | ||||
| 1931 | ||||
| 1933 | ||||
| 1934 | ||||
| 1937 | ||||
| July 1942 | ||||
| October 1942 | ||||
| 1946 | 15,429 | 23.1% | 13 | Independence Victory 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.... |
| 1949 | 17,659 | 24.5% | 17 | Independence Victory |
| 1953 | 16,959 | 21.9% | 16 | Independence Victory |
| 1956 | 12,925 | 15.6% | 17 | Independence Victory |
| June 1959 | 23,061 | 27.2% | 19 | Independence Victory |
| October 1959 | 21,882 | 25.7% | 17 | Independence Victory |
| 1963 | 25,217 | 28.2% | 19 | Independence Victory |
| 1967 | 27,029 | 28.1% | 18 | Independence Victory |
| 1971 | 26,645 | 25.3% | 17 | Independence Victory |
| 1974 | 28,381 | 24.9% | 17 | Independence Victory |
| 1978 Icelandic parliamentary election, 1978 The 1978 Icelandic Parliamentary election took place on 25 June 1978. As a result of the election a coalition was formed between the People's Alliance, Social Democratic Party and the Progressive Party with Ólafur Jóhannesson as Prime Minister.... |
20,656 | 16.9% | 12 | Independence Victory |
| 1979 | 30,861 | 24.9% | 17 | Independence Victory |
| 1983 | 24,095 | 18.5% | 14 | Independence Victory |
| 1987 | 28,902 | 18.9% | 13 | Independence Victory |
| 1991 | 29,866 | 18.9% | 13 | Independence Victory |
| 1995 Icelandic parliamentary election, 1995 The 1995 Icelandic parliamentary election took place on 8 April 1995 in Iceland to elect members of the Althing.... |
38,485 | 23.3% | 15 | Independence Victory |
| 1999 | 30,415 | 18.4% | 12 | Independence Victory |
| 2003 Icelandic parliamentary election, 2003 The 2003 Icelandic parliamentary election took place on 19 May 2003 to elect the members of the Althing of Iceland.-Background:For the previous 12 years Davíð Oddsson of the Independence Party had been Prime Minister of Iceland and since the 1995 election had ben ruling in coalition with the... |
32,484 | 17.7% | 12 | Independence Victory |
| 2007 Icelandic parliamentary election, 2007 The 2007 Icelandic 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... |
21,349 | 11.7% | 7 | Independence Victory |
| 2009 Icelandic parliamentary election, 2009 A parliamentary election was held in Iceland on 25 April 2009 following strong pressure from the public as a result of the Icelandic financial crisis... |
27,699 | 14.8% | 9 | Alliance Victory |
Leadership
6 of its 12 chairmen have been prime ministers of Iceland:- Tryggvi ÞórhallssonTryggvi ÞórhallssonTryggvi Þórhallsson was Prime Minister of Iceland from 28 August 1927 to 3 June 1932. He was a member of the Progressive Party....
PM 1927-1932 cm 1928-1932 - Ásgeir ÁsgeirssonÁsgeir ÁsgeirssonÁsgeir Ásgeirsson was the second President of Iceland, from 1952 to 1968.Educated as a theologian, Ásgeir graduated with honours from the University of Iceland in Reykjavík in 1915, but was considered too young to be ordained as a minister. He married Dóra Þórhallsdóttir in 1917. Dóra was the...
PM 1932-1934 chair man 1932-1933 - Hermann Jónasson PM 1934-1942 and 1956-1958 cm 1944-1962
- Ólafur JóhannessonÓlafur JóhannessonÓlafur 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:...
PM 1971-1974 and 1978-1979 cm 1968-1979 - Steingrímur HermannssonSteingrímur HermannssonSteingrímur 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...
PM 1983-1987 and 1988-1991 cm 1979-1994 - Halldór ÁsgrímssonHalldór ÁsgrímssonHalldór Ásgrímsson is an Icelandic politician, formerly Prime Minister of Iceland from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the Progressive Party from 1994 to 2006.-Education and early life:...
PM 2004-2006 cm 1994-2006 - Jón SigurðssonJón 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...
cm 2006-2007 - Guðni ÁgústssonGuðni ÁgústssonGuðni 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...
cm 2007-2008 - Valgerður SverrisdóttirValgerður SverrisdóttirValgerður Sverrisdóttir is an Icelandic politician. She has been member of the Althing for the Progressive Party for the Northeast constituency since 1987 and was Chairman of the Progressive Party parliamentary group from 1995 to 1999, Minister of Industry and Commerce from 1999 to 2006, and...
cm 2008 - 2009 - Sigmundur Davíð GunnlaugssonSigmundur Davíð GunnlaugssonSigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson is an Icelandic politician and chairman of the Progressive Party. He was elected to the Althing as the 8th member for the Reykjavík North constituency on 25 April 2009....
cm 2009 - present
In addition to those, Steingrímur Steinþórsson
Steingrímur Steinþórsson
Steingrímur Steinþórsson was Prime Minister of Iceland from 14 March 1950 to 11 September 1953. He was a member of the Interim Triumvirate from 26 January to 31 July 1952, and was a member of the Progressive Party, though never its chairman.He served as Minister of Agriculture and Social Affairs...
headed a government from 1950 to 1953.
See also
- LiberalismLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
- Contributions to liberal theoryContributions to liberal theoryIndividual contributors to classical liberalism and political liberalism are associated with philosophers of the Enlightenment. Liberalism as a specifically named ideology begins in the late 18th century as a movement towards self-government and away from aristocracy...
- Liberalism worldwideLiberalism worldwideThis article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world....
- List of liberal parties
- Liberal democracyLiberal democracyLiberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
- Liberalism and centrism in IcelandLiberalism and centrism in IcelandThis article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Iceland. It is limited to liberal and centrist parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
External links
- Progressive Party official site