There may be a public referendum on whether or not Iceland should continue accession talks with the European Union, possibly as early as this year.
As negotiations with the EU continue, parliament remains largely divided on the question of accession. Vigdís Hauksdóttir, an MP for the Progressive Party, has put forward a proposal calling for a public referendum on whether Iceland should continue talks with the EU, or withdraw, Morgunblaðið reports.
The proposal has garnered some support with members of the ruling coalition as well. The Leftist-Greens – while in a coalition with the pro-EU Social Democrats – have traditionally been against joining the organisation. Leftist-Green MP Guðfríður Lilja Grétarsdóttir submitted a proposal to the Foreign Affairs Committee calling for a referendum, this year at the latest. She told reporters that she believes the support is their with most members of parliament to pass the proposal.
However, Morgunblaðið conducted an informal survey on the matter, and believe it likely that Vigdís’ proposal will be defeated. Nine Leftist-Greens and every Social Democrat said they intended to vote against it. But what the final vote will come to remains to be seen.
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