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Iceland Votes On EU Negotiations Next August
The Icelandic public will vote on a referendum whether to continue EU membership negotiations on August 29, 2026. The government stated these intentions during a press conference on March 6, 2026. Yesterday, March 5, Foreign Minister and Liberal Alliance MP Þorgerður Katrín…
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Davíð Oddsson, Former Prime Minister Of Iceland, Dies At 78
Davíð Oddsson, former Prime Minister of Iceland, Mayor of Reykjavík, Governor of the Central Bank of Iceland, and Editor-in-Chief of Iceland’s daily newspaper Morgunblaðið since 2009, passed away yesterday, Sunday, March 1, according to Morgunblaðið. He was 78. Davíð Oddsson was born…
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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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Lilja Alfreðsdóttir Elected Progressive Party Chair
Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, former MP and minister, was elected as the head of Framsóknarflokkurinn (The Progressive Party) during the party’s assembly last weekend. Lilja received a majority vote constituting 58 percent of the total ballots. She is the first elected female chair…
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Vopnafjörður Councilmember Criticised For Speaking English
At a recent council meeting in Vopnafjörður, Progressive and Unaffiliated Party representative and council member Bobana Micanovic was criticised for speaking English, RÚV reports. On February 10, Bobana announced that she will not seek reelection, citing communication issues and the behaviour of…
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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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Changing Tides Within Icelandic Socialist Party
On May 24, a group of Icelandic Socialist Party members replaced the organisation’s ruling executive committee at the party’s general convention. Two socialist figureheads, founder Gunnar Smari Egilsson and city council representative Sanna Magdalena Mörtudóttir, lost their seats, following sessions of turmoil…
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Public Suggests Cutting Spending And Revising City’s Transportation Agreement
According to the public, the City of Reykjavík should spend less and review its transportation agreement, based on suggestions submitted through a recently concluded online consultation portal, reports RÚV. A few hundred suggestions were sent in, with most wanting fewer councillors, decreasing…
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Iceland Foreign Ministry Publishes Travel Advisory For LGBTQ+ People
The Foreign Ministry has published a travel advisory aimed at LGBTQ+ people, encouraging travellers to be mindful of the attitudes found in other countries. Compared to Iceland, views towards queer identities are different in other parts of the world, the ministry states,…
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Government Announces Changes To Fishing Fees
On March 25, Minister of Industries and Liberal MP Hanna Katrín Friðriksson and Finance Minister Daði Már Kristófersson announced changes to the current fishing fees, RÚV reports. In a press meeting, the ministers claimed that last year’s fishing fees accrued ten billion…
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Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson New Minister For Children
During a cabinet meeting between the Icelandic government and President Halla Tómasdóttir on Sunday, March 23, former minister for children and education Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir formally resigned. On March 20, news broke that Ásthildur had pursued a romantic relationship with a minor…
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Short-Term Rentals To Be Limited To Legal Residence
On March 13, the government published a drafted bill to limit short-term rentals exclusively to individuals’ legal residences. With the bill, the government aims to better ensure equilibrium in the housing market and that apartments will be used as people’s homes, as…
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Iceland At A Crossroads
A shifting world order presents Iceland with the opportunity to forge a new path (or not) When this magazine finds its way into the shops, cafés and cultural institutions of Reykjavík, it will have been a mere 46 days since the inauguration…
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Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir New Independence Party Leader
Former minister of judicial affairs Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir is the new leader of the Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn). She was elected during the party’s 45th national convention which took place between February 28-March 2. Along with Guðrún, party MP Jens Garðar Helgason was voted…
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Government Pledges Increased Financial Support To Ukraine
The Icelandic government has agreed to increase support to Ukraine by 2.1 billion ISK (14.4 million EUR) to aid in its war effort against Russia, Vísir reports. Prime Minister of Iceland and Social Democratic Alliance MP Kristrún Frostadóttir announced the additional spending…
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New Government Approval Ratings Almost 70%
The results of a recent Gallup survey show that the new government’s approval rating measures at 69%. However, the total support of each government party amounts to 48%, reports RÚV. The rating is on par with previous incumbent governments, with the former…
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Foreign Minister Claims Government Willing To Increase Relations With Greenland
Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said there is consensus within the government to increase relations with Greenland, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments hinting at annexing the country. Issues relating to Greenland were among the topics discussed at a government meeting on…
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Several Political Parties Wrongfully Received Public Funds
Several political parties have received millions in public funds despite not fulfilling the necessary conditions for monetary support. On January 21, mbl.is reported that the People’s Party (Flokkur Fólksins), led by Inga Sæland, has received 240 million ISK in public funding, even…
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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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Independence Party Confirms National Conference Dates
The Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (Independence Party) commission has confirmed the dates for its upcoming national conference. The party’s next leader is expected to be elected at the event, following former leader Bjarni Benediktsson’s decision to step down and resign from politics. The convention takes…
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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…