Third time lucky? Iceland’s Pirate party given chance to form government

By Reuters December 2, 2016
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Birgitta Jonsdottir of the Pirate Party reacts as she votes during the parliamentary election in Reykjavik, Iceland October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Geirix
Birgitta Jonsdottir of the Pirate Party reacts as she votes during the parliamentary election in Reykjavik, Iceland October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Geirix

STOCKHOLM — Iceland’s Pirate Party leader Birgitta Jonsdottir has been asked by the president to try to form a new government, local media reported on Friday, after the two largest parliamentary parties each failed to put together a coalition.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Gudni Johannesson, Jonsdottir said: “I am hopeful that we will find a way to work together.”

The anti-establishment Pirate Party, which came third in an October election, will continue talks with four other parties represented in parliament, the Left-Greens, Social Democrats, Bright Future and the Reform Party.

The Left-Greens suspended coalition negotiations last week. The Independence Party, which as the biggest party was given the first chance to form a governing coalition, said on Nov. 15 that it had failed to do so.

Reporting by Ragnhildur Sigurdadottir.