From Iceland — Government Loses Support

Government Loses Support

Published August 3, 2011

The ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Leftist-Greens has seen a drop in support, while the conservatives remain as strong as ever. A Leftist-Green MP expressed bewilderment at the conservative showing.
According to the latest figures from Gallup, only 35% of respondents said they support the ruling coalition now, as opposed to the 60% support they enjoyed when elections were held in spring 2009. Taken separately, support for the Social Democrats is at 23%, while support for the Leftist-Greens is at 16% – showing more people support the parties separately than they do as a team.
Meanwhile, support for the Independence Party is at 36%, and remains the largest party in the country.
Leftist-Green MP Björn Valur Gíslason, writing on his blog, expressed bewilderment at the conservatives’ showing. He points out the findings of the Special Investigative Committee, which he contends demonstrated “corruption both economic and political” within the party.
“Maybe someday someone will establish an investigative committee to investigate how it could happen that as dead guilty a party as the Independence Party could enjoy such levels of support from a people who have suffered as much as they have at their hands,” he wrote in part.
Related polls have indicated that many Icelanders feel the economy is not recovering fast enough, and most Icelanders are still very sceptical of joining the European Union – although it is the official position of the government to seek accession.

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