“Iceland’s important parliamentary election starts a political revolution that challenges economic pressures and changes the country’s identity.”
Freedom rings with the same might as Iceland’s dramatic landscape in land, fire and ice. In the Arctic Circle, close to a population of 400,000, Iceland held its general elections on Tuesday amidst high expectations, preparing for a significant political shift ahead of its upcoming general elections.
This is not another election; it’s a vote on the strength of a country after the deep economic shocks from the 2008 crisis and the continuing challenges of a world in rapid change.
Althingi is the world’s oldest parliament. Created in 930 by the Norse settlers, we use today a very intricate system of regional and proportional voting to choose 63 new members.
The battle is between ten parties fighting for seats against eight already sitting in parliament. The predictability of swapping seats is no more here and that has come to an end too.
Instead, Iceland faces a world characterized by volatility and instability. The fact that Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson decided to end the current government reveals how serious the problems in the country are. At first glance, the economy is under significant stress.
In February 2023, inflation reached 10.2%; the shortage of housing for young Icelanders and the increasing immigration are straining the boundaries of this typically closed-off society.
Volcanic eruptions in southwestern Iceland are a wonderful metaphor for the political environment of that country: they are unexpected, they can cause damage, but they also may produce extraordinary change.
The government is grappling with how to resolve the forced relocation of tens of thousands of people, and these issues carry deeper political implications.
Former parliamentarian Vilhjálmur Bjarnson correctly identifies the grave political problem when he says, “We have no charming person with a vision.”
The financial crisis in 2008 broke up the old political stories and new parties sprang up here that support everything from direct democracy to environmental protection.
As expected of the Icelandic people, 80% of the electorate casts ballots, indicating both political force and optimism. Every ballot is much more than a vote—it is a message regarding the future of this land.
FAQs
1. What makes these races so important?
These elections may modify the configuration of Iceland's government. The country has economic trouble, a high immigrant rate, and a divided executive.
2. How many parties are contesting?
Ten parties are contending for office, eight of which already hold offices in the government.
3. What are the most salient issues over which people are voting?
Some of the most serious problems include inflation, housing shortages, immigration, and readjusting the economy since the financial crisis in 2008.
4. How is the voting system in Iceland?
The mechanism uses both regional divisions and proportional representation. To gain a seat in the parliament, a party must have at least 5% of the vote cast.
5. What is special about the democracy in Iceland?
Iceland has a very high voting turnout rate and the world's oldest continuously running government, Althingi, was established in 930.
Ballot boxes are not places to put papers; they are ships of hope that reflect the hopes of a whole country to navigate rough seas with the same strength that has made Iceland’s past so amazing.
With arctic winds whispering over these volcanoes’ land, democracy is ready to begin another story.