Parliament
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Question Of Iceland Joining The EU Hangs In The Balance In Parliament
On the heels of a poll conducted earlier this month showing that public support for Iceland joining the European Union has been growing, with the largest portion of Icelanders now in favour of the move, the matter is receiving somewhat contentious treatment…
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Prime Minister “Startled” Over Police Seeking To Get Journalists To Reveal Their Sources
During an open questions session of Parliament yesterday, RÚV reports, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir said she was “startled” to learn that four journalists are to be questioned by police in a case that is tantamount to compelling them to reveal their sources,…
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Poll: Little Movement In Party Support Between Months
A new poll from Gallup shows very little movement in terms of individual party support, but support for the ruling coalition has been declining gradually since the 2021 general elections. [su_pullquote]We have been having some awful weather here as of late, so…
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Proposal Submitted To Remove Danish Royal Insignia From Icelandic Parliament
Pirate Party MP Björn Leví Gunnarsson has submitted a brief but explicit parliamentary proposal with one simple ask: remove the crown and royal insignia of the late King of Denmark Christian IX from the building of the Icelandic Parliament. [su_pullquote]Win a signed…
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Health Minister Still Planning To Submit Bill On Decriminalising Drugs For Personal Consumption
Although this was not included in the announced joint platform of the new government, page 13 of the parliamentary matters agenda shows that Minister of Health Willum Þór Þorsson is planning to introduce a bill that would make changes to existing laws,…
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Bill To Ban “Conversion Therapy” Introduced To Parliament
A new bill being introduced to Parliament hopes to ban the practice of so-called “conversion therapy” in Iceland, Fréttablaðið reports. [su_pullquote]Become a member of the Grapevine’s YouTube channel for early access to our videos – click here for details.[/su_pullquote] For the unfamiliar,…
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Prime Minister Advises People Proceed With Caution In The Pandemic
Following yesterday’s news that three government minsiters all tested positive for the coronavirus, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir tells RÚV that it is important for people to exercise caution, and that it is our common project to beat the pandemic. [su_pullquote]Enter a competition…
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First MP Of Kurdish Background And Youngest MP Both Take Seats In Iceland’s Parliament
Today was an historic first in the history of Iceland’s Parliament, for two reasons. [su_pullquote]Enter a competition to win a box of Grapevine goodies! Just sign up for our newsletter here before 15:00 Icelandic time on New Year’s Eve, and answer the…
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Older, Wealthier Conservatives Happiest Of All With Iceland’s New Government
According to a new poll conducted by Prósent, members of the Independence Party, those aged 65 and older, and those earning 800,000 ISK per month or more are the happiest of all with Iceland’s new government. [su_pullquote]You can now take walking tours…
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Dissatisfaction And Confusion Regarding New Justice Minister And Assistant
Following the formation of Iceland’s new government, two appointments in particular are proving to be a bit contentious: Jón Gunnarsson of the Independence Party as Minister of Justice, and of the same party, Brynjar Níelsson as one of his assistants. [su_pullquote]Become a…
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Bill Submitted That Would Ban “Blood Farms” In Iceland
One of the first pieces of legislation being introduced to the newly-formed Icelandic Parliament is a proposed ban on so-called “blood farms”, Vísir reports. [su_pullquote]Become a member of our YouTube channel to get special access to our video content![/su_pullquote] The bill has…
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What Are Icelanders Talking About: The Latest News We Love To Hate
As one of her last acts as Minister of Health, Svandís Svavarsdóttir (seen above) announced new border guidelines in the wake of the so-called Omicron variant of the coronavirus. According to the new rules, anyone who has spent 24 hours or more…
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Iceland’s New Government Announced
Following the longest parliamentary break in Icelandic history, and negotiations between the Left-Greens, the Independence Party and the Progressive Party which began shortly after the September 25th elections, Iceland’s new government has at last been announced. [su_pullquote]Icelanders give books to their loved…
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New Government, Joint Platform Could Be Announced Next Week
Minister of Finance Bjarni Benediktsson (above) says that the new ruling coalition government could be announced after the weekend, Fréttablaðið reports. [su_pullquote]Join our High Five Club at either the ‘Secret Handshake’ or ‘Elbow Five’ level, and get an e-copy of The Reykjavík…
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Gov’t Negotiations Still Ongoing, Awaiting Vote Count Committee Decision
Government coalition talks are still ongoing between the Leftist-Greens, the Independence Party and the Progressive Party, some five weeks since general elections were held. However, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir tells RÚV that there is no uncertainty about what the next government will…
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First Poll Since Election: Contrasts With Election Results; Election Committee Still Out
A new poll from Market and Media Research, conducted from October 12th through 18th, shows some interesting contrasts with the results of the September 25th general elections. Meanwhile, the committee that was tasked with investigating the Northwest District’s mishandling of ballots has…
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Vice MP Subjected To Repeated Racist Abuse, Has Filed Reports With The Police
Lenya Rún Taha Karim, a 21-year old law student and vice MP for the Pirate Party, has been subjected to repeated racist messages from people who object to her even being in Iceland—despite being born in this country—let alone serving in Iceland’s…
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Poll: Largest Share Of Those Polled Want Katrín Jakobsdóttir To Continue As Prime Minister
A new poll from Maskína, which asked respondents which party chairs they would most like to see be Iceland’s next prime minister, showed the greatest portion of those polled overwhelmingly choosing Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Iceland’s current Prime Minister and chair of the Leftist-Greens,…
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Independence Party Gains New MP, Centre Party Loses One
Last Saturday, Birgir Þórarinsson, who was elected to Parliament during last month’s elections to represent the Centre Party, announced that he was leaving the party to join the Independence Party. The move was not well received by his now-former party members, but…
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Election Update: What To Do About The Northwest Ballot Situation?
As reported last week, the national election board concluded that the Northwest District, beset by one recount and revelations that many ballots remained unsealed after counting in the wake of Iceland’s general elections, could not satisfactorily demonstrate that their voting procedures had…
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Election Update: Coalition Talks Continue, Result Uncertain
Ten days after Iceland’s general elections, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir has confirmed that the Left-Greens, the party she chairs, the Independence Party and the Progressive Party are only in talks with one another regarding the formation of Iceland’s next government, RÚV reports.…
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National Election Board: Northwest District Could Not Prove Ballot Count Met Standards
Kristín Edwald, the chair of Iceland’s national election board, told reporters that the board did not receive confirmation from the Northwest District that their ballot counting has been conducted in a satisfactory manner, RÚV reports. The vote count in that district, and…
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New Developments In Recount Case: Open Ballots Left Unsupervised For Unknown Time
The daughter-in-law of the hotel manager of Hótel Borgarnes, where ballots for the Northwest District were counted over the weekend, posted—and later deleted—two photos to her Instagram showing a room full of ballots, some of them unsealed and in open boxes, with…