Parliament
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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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Coalition Collapses, Prime Minister Calls For Election In November
On October 13, Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson held a press conference to announce the end of the governing coalition, reports RÚV. Elections are set for November 30, pending the President of Iceland’s approval of Bjarni’s request to dissolve parliament. Bjarni had informed…
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What If The Kids Were In Charge? Introducing the key planks of Kidarchy’s platform
Would you give Kidarchy your vote? Kidarchy‘s manifesto consists of its members’ uncensored opinions. You might not agree with our ideas, but we also don‘t always agree with each other, either. That‘s okay. What we do all agree on is wanting to…
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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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Most Icelanders Do Not Trust Government To Handle Bank Sale
The majority of respondents to a poll conducted by Maskína do not trust the government to handle the sale of Íslandsbanki, Vísir reports. As reported, Íslandsbanki has been owned by the Icelandic treasury since the wake of the 2008 financial crash, but…
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Most Trust Towards Social Democrat Chair
The largest portion of respondents to a new poll from Prósent said they place the most trust in Social Democrat chair Kristrún Frostadóttir (above), Fréttablaðið reports, with 25.4% overall saying they trust her the most. In second place was Prime Minister and…
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Report On Bank Sale Finds Numerous Errors, Finance Minister Back In Spotlight
The Icelandic National Audit Office (INAO) has just released their report on the sale of a 22.5% share of Íslandsbanki last spring that even the government has characterised as deeply flawed. The report states that numerous mistakes were made in the sale…
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Government Would Fall If Elections Were Held Today
A new poll from Þjóðarpúls Gallup shows that the parties in the ruling coalition–the Left-Greens, the Independence Party and the Progressive Party–would only win about 47% of the vote if elections were held today, RÚV reports. [su_pullquote]It’s only one week until Iceland…
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Night Bus Closure Discussed In Parliament: “Matter Of Equality And Security”
Yesterday’s announcement from capital area bus service company Strætó that they were ceasing all operations of the night bus has spurred a heated public discussion, not least of all within the halls of Parliament. [su_pullquote]Get the new Reykjavík Grapevine issue with Björk…
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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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Justice Ministry Attempts To Pass Sweeping Immigration Bill For Fifth Time
Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson will try once again to pass a controversial bill that aims to make broad changes to the Law on Foreigners, RÚV reports, albeit with some revisions from the previous attempt. [su_pullquote]The Bargain Chest just opened in Grapevine…
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Baltic State Dignitaries Visit Capital Area
Streets were closed for a short time yesterday for a visit from the presidents and foreign ministers of the Baltic states, reports Vísir. Police officers on motorcycles were spotted around the capital area, accompanied by buses and other cars for the foreign…
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Love Will Win (If We Want It): Fighting Transphobia In Iceland
On June 25th, a man walked into the London Pub in Oslo, Norway, pulled out a gun, and started shooting. He would repeat this at two other locations, killing two people and wounding 21 before being arrested. He was expressly motivated by…
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Great Moments In Icelandic History: The Bónus Flag at The Parliament
This moment has a pretty unique stand in this writer’s mind, as I witnessed it take place. I was a young journalist when it happened in 2008 and I remember the tension it presented, which I tried to explain in an article…
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Union Head Questions Why Top Gov’t Officials Get Percentage Pay Rises Beyond General Agreement
President of the Confederation of Icelandic Labour Unions (ASÍ) Drífa Snædal considers it strange that members of Parliament, government ministers, and the President are granted annual percentage-based salaries that go well beyond the same percentage granted to the Icelandic working class, RÚV…
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Parliament Adjourned Until September
Last night at 1:30 am, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir postponed Parliament meetings until September, reports Vísir. Members of Parliament settled various cases in the final moments before the summer holidays, such as increased refunds for large film projects. [su_pullquote]Who better to ask…
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MP Offended By Sculpture In Front Of Parliament, Wants It Moved Elsewhere
Since 2012, Spanish artist Santiago Sierra’s ‘The Black Cone, Monument To Civil Disobedience’ has stood in front of Parliament, a gift from the artist to Iceland in honour of the 2008-2009 protests. Ten years later, one member of Parliament says that the…
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Special Committee Recommends Investigation Into Treatment Of People With Disabilities
A special committee reporting to Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir intends to investigate the treatment of adults with developmental disabilities or mental health problems in government facilities as far back as the 1970s, reports Vísir. [su_pullquote]Who better to ask what’s best in Reykjavík…
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Controversial Bill On Asylum Seekers Hits Parliamentary Floor
Minister of Justice Jón Gunnarsson has submitted a bill to Parliament that would make significant changes to the law regarding those seeking international protection in Iceland. This is the fourth attempt being made to pass this bill, which has received considerable pushback…
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New Poll: Government Fallen, Large Swings In Party Support
A new poll conducted by Prósent for Fréttablaðið shows that if elections were held today, the current ruling coalition–led by the Left-Greens with the Independence Party and the Progressive Party–would not win enough seats to hold a majority. Some opposition parties have…
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Minister Charged With Breaking Parliamentary Code Of Conduct
Infrastructure Minister Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson has had charges filed against him for violation of the Code of Conduct for Members Of Parliament, RÚV reports. [su_pullquote]Not in Iceland for a while but still want to read our new issue? Get it sent from…
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Bill On Mourning Leave for Parents Approved
The bill on grief leave for parents who lose their child was approved by the Icelandic government on March 29th, RÚV reports. This revolutionary bill will guarantee bereaved parents the right to a leave of absence, as well as payments that will…
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Health Minister Says He Will Submit Drug Decriminalisation Bill This Autumn
Following yesterday’s report that Minister of Health Willum Þór Þorsson had decided to not submit his ministry’s bill on decriminalising personal use quantities of drugs, he has now told RÚV that he fully intends to submit the bill this autumn, albeit with…