From Iceland — Progressives To Join Ruling Coalition?

Progressives To Join Ruling Coalition?

Published April 15, 2011

The Leftist-Greens have been in informal talks with the Progressives over the possibility of them joining the ruling coalition. Sources close to Eyjan say that changes in the government “are more likely than not”.
A number of changes have been underway within the Leftist-Green Party. MP Ásmundur Einar Daðason left the parliamentary party earlier this week, as his colleagues Atli Gíslason and Lilja Mósesdóttir did previously. While this has made the party appear to be on shaky ground, Eyjan reports that the centre-right Progressive Party may be cosying up to the coalition.
There are already a number of indications. For one, Progressive chairman Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson has never completely ruled out working with the majority; just that his party would not join up with the coalition “unchanged”. Additionally, two Progressive MPs – Siv Friðleifsdóttir and Guðmundur Steingrímsson – have expressed the desire for their party to join up with the coalition. The Progressives also supported the emergency coalition of the Social Democrats and Leftist-Greens in early 2009, before elections were held.
While sources speaking to Eyjan have said that informal talks between the Leftist-Greens and Progressives have been recently started, they appear to be divided on how likely such a partnership will be. But the recent extending of friendship from the Progressives – as well as waves being made within the Leftist-Green Party – has led these same sources to agree that changes in the government are more likely to happen than not.

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