Alþingi
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Government Prepares Increased Customs Monitoring
Legislation is underway that grants the Icelandic Customs Authority increased authority to examine travellers’ luggage without prior consent, mbl.is reports. However, selected individuals will be notified retroactively. The bill is currently under preparation by the Ministry of Finance and published in the…
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Icelandic MPs Blacklisted By The State Of Azerbaijan
Two Icelandic MPs, Bjarni Jónsson (Left-Green Movement) and Birgir Þórarinsson (Independence Party), have been blacklisted by the state of Azerbaijan, mbl.is reports. As a result, they will not be able to attend COP29, the UN Convention on Climate Change, scheduled to take…
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Left-Greens Not Participating In Caretaker Government
Vinstri Græn (the Left-Green Movement) have decided not to participate in the caretaker government that will oversee parliament until the Nov. 30 election. Party leader and outgoing infrastructure minister Svandís Svavarsdóttir denied President Halla Tómasdóttir’s request for the party’s ongoing participation in…
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President Halla Tómasdóttir Assesses Parliament Dissolution
Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson met with President Halla Tómasdóttir this morning to request the dissolution of parliament. Bjarni announced his decision to end the current coalition government in a press conference on Sunday, setting the next election date on November 30 —…
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Former Presidential Candidate Forms New Political Party
Former presidential candidate and attorney Arnar Þór Jónsson has formed a new political party, titled The Democratic Party — Association for Self-Determination. Vísir reports that the party aims to counter tyranny and chaos. Before announcing the establishment of the new party, Arnar…
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Support For Coalition Parties Decreases, Social Democratic Alliance Looms Large
A new survey conducted by Maskína for news outlet Vísir suggests paints an interesting picture of Iceland’s political landscape, with the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) currently polling highest at 25% — a decrease from their massive 30.9% approval rate in April 2024.…
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Labour Unions Organise Mass Protest Over Inflation
The Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASÍ), Federation of Public Workers (BSRB), and the Icelandic Teachers’ Union (KÍ) have organised a mass protest at 16:00 today — Tuesday September 10 — at Austurvöllur in Reykjavík. “Incessant inflation and high interest rates have seriously…
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Vote Of No Confidence Fails At Alþingi
UPDATED 18.04 A vote of no confidence was proposed to Alþingi on April 17. The Pirate Party and the People’s Party (Flokkur Fólksins) have prepared the bill stipulating that parliament should be dissolved before July 26, with new elections to be held…
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Thousands Sign Petition Against Bjarni Benediktsson As Prime Minister
More than 18.600 people have signed a petition proclaiming their lack of support for the prime ministership of Independence Party MP and Chairperson Bjarni Benediktsson. The petition, titled “Bjarni Ben does not have my support as Prime Minister,” went live online…
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Protester Removed From Alþingi
Monday, March 4, an Alþingi parliament meeting was postponed after protesters in Alþingi‘s spectator benches began shouting at MPs. Speaker of the House Birgir Ármannsson promptly adjourned the meeting. Several protesters were present as Minister of Judicial Affairs and Independence Party MP…
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Bjarni Ben’s Facebook Posts About Alþingi Encampment Cause Uproar
The head of Solaris, an aid organisation for refugees and asylum seekers in Iceland, is calling out a recent Facebook tirade by Foreign Minister Bjarni Benediktsson as falling under the definition of hate speech in the penal code. Bjarni’s original post on…
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Government Unveils Plans For Grindavík
The government presented its plan this afternoon for addressing the situation in Grindavík. Months of seismic activity and volcanic eruptions in the area have kept the 3,700 residents of the small town on the southern coast of the Reykjanes peninsula out of…
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The Last Of The Lox
Open-pen fish farming has everyone angry, even Björk At Austurvöllur, discontented protesters dump dozens of dead fish on Alþingi’s doorstep. Environmentalists, farmers and fishermen symbolically pour yellow-dyed water on the fish – labelled “Lice Poison” – as they call on parliament to stop sea-based…
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Fabricating A Migrant Crisis
Iceland’s immigration policy unleashed and unmasked In December 1938, the Salinger family – Erich, Gertrud and eight-year old Steffi – penned a letter to Icelandic authorities. In it, they explained they were seeking refuge from the rise of persecution of minorities – specifically…
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Kids Run the World: For Better or For Worse
“Ég treysti Yrsu R.” (“I trust Yrsa R.”) I sign a little hand-written waiver decorated with glitter, as I sit in a chair to get a haircut. My hairdresser is just over 10 years old, but that doesn’t make me even a…
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RVK Newscast 213: Parliament Is Back, People’s Party In Trouble
Welcome back to RVK Newscast! In this episode, the editor-in-chief of the Reykjavík Grapevine, Valur Grettisson, is outside the Icelandic parliament to discuss all the latest news. Read on for more info and links! WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT AUSTURVELLIR? Join our YouTube…
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No Restrictions Set On Cats’ Movement Outdoors
The Parliamentary Ombudsman has received a complaint about The Housing Complaints Committee’s decision not to restrict the free movement of cats in the summer residence area, reports RÚV. The complaint was sent to Parliament by The Cottage Owners Association, which operates in…
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New Intersex Treatment Bill Criticised By Former Prime Minister
Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, chairman of the Centre Party and former Prime Minister of Iceland, has criticised the government’s plan to ban the ‘treatment’ of intersex people, DV reports. Sigmundur says that it is ridiculous that the government intends to stop parents and…
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Minister Of Education Quarantined, Parliament Sanitised
Minister of Education Lilja Alfreðsdóttir will be quarantined for the next two weeks. She reported on her Facebook page on June 29th that she had been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. She and her husband were screened at Icelandic…
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COVID-19 In Iceland: No New Infections, Bid To Move Parliament To Harpa
No new COVID-19 infections were recorded in Iceland on April 23rd, according to the latest figures released on the government’s database. Yesterday was the first day on which no new cases were reported since February 29th. Two patients were discharged from hospital…
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COVID-19 Round Up: Drop In Infections, Tourist Policy To Be Reconsidered
Significant Drop In New Cases As of midnight last night, there are 1,586 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iceland, just 24 more than yesterday. On 5th April there were 74 new cases and 70 were recorded on 4th April. Speaking in today’s press…
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Icelandic Government Passes 26 Billion ISK COVID-19 Action Package
Last night, the Icelandic Parliament approved an investment programme costing almost 26 billion ISK designed to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic and its expected impacts on Icelandic society, Fréttablaðið reports. The Alþingi passed five bills concerning COVID-19 and a supplementary budget was introduced…
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Previously Proposed Vape Bill Back On The Table
Parliament is re-considering a bill proposed by the Bright Future party in 2017, which would create restrictions on vaping, Vísir reports. The bill was first proposed by former Minister of Health Óttarr Proppé of Bright Future in early 2017, and would prohibit…