Not All Ministers Liked Equally

The ministers running Iceland’s government enjoy varying levels of support, although none of them had support above 33%.

According to a new Capacent poll, Vísir reports, respondents were asked whether they were satisfied, unsatisfied, or neutral on the job performance of the country’s ministers.

Two ministers who fall under the category of “ministers of welfare” – Minister of Health Kristján Þór Júlíusson and Minister of Social Affairs and Housing Eygló Harðardóttir – enjoyed the highest level of support from the general public, with 33% and 32% of respondents respectively saying they were pleased with the job they were doing. In fact, Eygló was the only minister with nearly even levels of satisfaction and dissatisfaction (32% and 33%).

The least popular minister by far was Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson. Only 18% said they were happy with the job he has been doing, while 65% said they were not happy with his performance. This is also the highest level of dissatisfaction amongst any of the ministers.

The party chairpersons of the ruling coalition did not fair much better. 28% of respondents were satisfied with Independence Party chairperson and Minister of Finance Bjarni Benediktsson, while 56% were not. At the same time, 25% of respondents said they were pleased with Progressive chairperson and Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, while 46% were not.