The political party founded by former Progressive Guðmundur Steingrímsson made its formal introduction to the public today, and is asking for help in coming up with a name.
Guðmundur was originally an MP of the Progressive Party, but left last August due to differences of opinion, among them his pro-EU stance and his belief that the party was becoming too nationalist. Even in its early stages, his new party has seen considerable levels of possible support. An MMR poll from last October showed a third of voters saying they would consider voting for his party.
Today, Vísir reports, his party made its introduction to the public.
At a press conference held at the Nordic House this afternoon, Guðmundur and Heiða Kristín Helgadóttir announced that their party would be running in the next parliamentary elections. They also presented their new website, heimasidan.is (literally, “thehomepage.is”)
On their home page, they ask the general public to submit a name for their “political party or alliance or group or power or club or movement or organisation or just something that places emphasis on conducting constructive and rewarding politics.”
Guðmundur has said in the past that he believes Iceland needs “a liberal, internationalist, green centrist party”, and his new website seems to echo this sentiment, as they say they want “a green economic system that creates plenty of jobs, a good education and health care system, productive and sustainable use of our resources, a continuous economy, fearless cooperation with other nations, perspective, democracy, liberalism, peace and compassion.”
The site asks visitors to submit suggestions for a name for the party by January 1, 2012, and says that there is a possibility that the person who presents the best idea could win a prize.
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