Alþingi
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“AirBnB” Law Confirmed In Alþingi
New legislation concerning short-term leasing allows residents to rent out their private dwelling, while simultaneously limiting the subletting of other properties in urban areas. The law was introduced by Minister of Industries Hanna Katrín Friðriksson and passed in Alþingi on Thursday, March…
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New National Poll Shows Social Democrats And Centre Party In The Lead
A new poll conducted by Prósent shows the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylking) and the Centre Party (Miðflokkurinn) in the national lead. According to the survey, the Social Democrats’ popularity has decreased slightly, measuring at 30.1 percent compared to last October’s 32 percent. …
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Council Of Europe Commissioner Opposes Legislation Imprisoning Children
Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe opposes the planned detention of children, soon to be implemented with a new legislation establishing refugee camps in Iceland. Alþingi’s committee for general and educational affairs — which oversees the bill — received…
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Minister Of Education And Children On Medical Leave
On December 9, Minister of Education and Children and People’s Party MP Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson went away on medical leave, RÚV reported. The minister has recently undergone medical tests at the National Hospital and needs heart surgery, slated for early 2026, the…
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Pets Allowed In Apartment Buildings After Bill Passes
Keeping cats and dogs in an apartment building is no longer conditioned by neighbouring residents’ consent, after Alþingi passed a change to the law on multidwelling units. Until now, apartment building households could not keep their furry friends without acquiring the approval…
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A Prime Minister At The Precipice: Kristrún Frostadóttir’s Case For The Boring Centre
Iceland’s youngest-ever prime minister understands what’s at stake “I worry about the public’s declining trust in politics in general. That was my sense when I first went into politics. One of the first things I did was to travel the country on…
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Fifteen Percent Tariff Begins Today
Effective today at 04:00 GMT, the import tariff on Icelandic goods to the United States rises from 10 percent to 15 percent. This rise to 15 percent was announced on July 31, as opposed to the original 10 percent tariff that was…
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A Nuclear Summer Vacation Eruption
Alþingi goes on break, finally The most discussed parliamentary bill in the history of Iceland, a legislation on fisheries resource rents, was finalised on July 14 after a formal vote brought about by what has been called “the nuclear option”, that is…
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Alþingi In Recess Following Historic Filibustering
The most discussed parliamentary bill in the history of Iceland, a legislation on fisheries resource rents, was finalised on July 14 after a formal vote. The bill was approved with 34 votes against 23. On July 8, RÚV reported that the contentious…
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Almost 70% Of Public Support Fisheries Rent Bill
A ruling majority of the public supports Alþingi’s contested bill on fisheries resource rent, according to a new survey by Prósent, RÚV reports. According to the survey, 69% of the public are in favour, 17% opposed, and 14% are neutral. Approximately 70% of…
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Colombian Refugee Oscar Florez Granted Citizenship
In the early days of June, Oscar Florez, a 17-year-old refugee from Colombia, was granted Icelandic citizenship by Alþingi. The decision was proposed by Alþingi’s general and educational committee, which oversees applications for citizenships submitted to parliament. In April, 2025, RÚV reported that…
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Ásthildur Lóa Returns To Parliament
Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir is returning to Alþingi today, after having been on leave since resigning as Minister of Children and Education on March 23. Her resignation was submitted following reports that she had a child with a minor when she was in…
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Democracy Thrives In The Mess
Why a recent resignation of an Icelandic Minister is a sign of a healthy democracy Iceland’s Minister of Education and Children’s Affairs, Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir, resigned earlier this year amidst a scandal that made headlines here in Iceland and notably around the…
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Denim-clad Jón Gnarr Denied Access To Alþingi
Liberal Reform Party (Viðreisn) MP and former mayor of Reykjavík Jón Gnarr reported on social media that he was denied entry to Alþingi. According to Jón, 58, he was entering parliament when a person tried denying him access, citing Alþingi’s dress code.…
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Several Absentee Ballots Not Delivered To Tally Stations
A delivery containing up to 25 absentee votes for the Alþingi election last November was not transferred to its corresponding tally station. As reported by mbl.is, the votes — which should have been counted in the South West constituency — were found…
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Iceland’s New Government Formed, Priorities Unveiled
On December 21, the leaders of the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylking), Liberal Reform Party (Viðreisn) and the People’s Party (Flokkur Fólksins) presented the makeup of their coalition government and its agenda during a press conference at Hafnarborg in Hafnarfjörður, reports RÚV. The…
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Coalition Government Agreement To Be Presented Next Weekend
Leaders of the presumed coalition parties are set to announce their agreement for a coalition government on the weekend before Christmas. The party heads, Inga Sæland, Kristrún Frostadóttir, and Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (People’s Party; Social Democratic Alliance; Liberal Reform Party, respectively) have…
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Government Formation Likely To Happen Before New Year
On December 11, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, leader of Viðreisn (the Liberal Reform Party), said in conversation with RÚV that a new government is likely to be formed by the end of 2024. Since the election on November 30, Samfylkingin (the Social Democratic…
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Kristrún Frostadóttir Begins Formal Government Formation
Since receiving the presidential mandate, Samfylkingin (Social Democratic Alliance) Leader Kristrún Frostadóttir has formally commenced forming a government in conjunction with Viðreisn (Liberal Reform) and Flokkur fólksins (People’s Party). On December 3, Kristrún called Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir and Inga Sæland, leaders of…
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Parliamentary Election Results, Social Democrats On Top
Icelandic voters cast their ballots on November 30 in a snap election ushered in by Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson’s decision to break parliament last October. The Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) ended up winning the majority of votes cast, totalling 20.8% and 15…
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Former Minister Jón Gunnarsson Focus Of International Spy Investigation
The private intelligence firm Black Cube, run by former Mossad special operatives and intelligence agents, allegedly collected information on former judiciary minister and Independence Party MP Jón Gunnarsson regarding his ties to the Icelandic whaling industry. Black Cube’s portfolio includes the cover-up…
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Candidacy Deadline For Parliamentary Elections Passed
The deadline for declaring one’s candidacy for the Nov. 30 parliamentary elections expired at noon today, reports RÚV. Twelve political parties announced their candidacies, but one withdrew. Now that the candidacy deadline has passed, two things follow: the review of candidacy documents…
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Former Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson Running For Parliament
Former mayor of Reykjavík Dagur B. Eggertsson is running for the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) in the upcoming Alþingi elections. He assumes second place in the North Reykjavík constituency, which party leader Kristrún Frostadóttir leads. Dagur has been on Reykjavík’s city council…