Social Democrats triumph in Icelandic elections, government party crashes out
The Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) has emerged as the clear victor in Iceland’s parliamentary elections on November 30, 2024, marking a dramatic turnaround for the party under the leadership of Kristrún Frostadóttir. Since taking over as leader three years ago, Frostadóttir has revitalized the Social Democrats, propelling their popularity to new heights. The party secured 21.8% of the vote in this election, translating to 15 seats in the 63-seat Althingi parliament, a significant increase from the 6 seats they held previously.
The People’s Party (Flokkur fólksins), led by Inga Sæland, also made notable gains, winning 10 seats, up from 6 in the last election. Known for her advocacy on social welfare and housing issues, Sæland has solidified her party’s appeal among Icelanders seeking greater economic fairness. Meanwhile, the centrist Liberal Reform Party (Viðreisn), under the leadership of Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, secured 11 seats with 15.9% of the vote, up from their previous 5 seats. Gunnarsdóttir’s focus on economic liberalism and European integration has resonated with many voters.
Together, the Social Democrats, People’s Party, and Liberal Reform Party are poised to form Iceland’s next government, potentially led by three women for the first time in the country’s history. With 36 combined seats, the coalition would secure a comfortable majority in the Alþingi, setting the stage for a progressive government focused on addressing Iceland’s economic and social challenges.
In stark contrast, the election was historically bad for the right-wing Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn), led by outgoing Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson. The party garnered just 19.2% of the vote, marking the first time in its history that it failed to secure more than 20%. Once the dominant force in Icelandic politics, usually garnering between 30-40% of the vote, the Independence Party’s decline reflects growing voter discontent with its leadership and policies.
On the other end of the spectrum, Iceland’s far-left parties, including the Socialist Party (Sósíalistar) Pirate Party (Píratar) and the Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð), which until last spring held the Prime Minister’s office under former leader Katrín Jakobsdóttir, failed to surpass the 5% threshold required for representation in parliament. This marks the first time since the 1930s that no far-left party will be seated in the Alþingi, underscoring the evolving political dynamics of the nation.
