Iceland Set for Government Change After Tight Election
Early parliamentary elections in Iceland revealed a potential path to power for the opposition Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), potentially leading to a shift in the country’s leadership.
Social Democrats Take Narrow Lead
With partial results from several electoral districts tallied, Samfylkingin, led by Kristrún Frostadóttir, appeared poised to emerge as the strongest party. Projections from the radio station RÚV at around 2:00 a.m. (CET) put them at approximately 22.6 percent of the vote. CLOSE behind, Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson‘s liberal-conservative Independence Party trailed with 21.6 percent.
Challenging Times for Incumbents
The other two parties in the previous government coalition faced significant setbacks. The Progress Party, positioned in the political center, and the Left-Green Movement experienced substantial losses. The Left-Greens even risked being eliminated from parliament altogether.
Change on the Horizon
A preliminary final result of the election was expected in the morning. If the initial figures hold, the non-EU nation is on the verge of a change in government. At her Social Democrats’ election night gathering in Reykjavik, Frostadóttir stated, “There was a clear need for change in the country.”
It is now apparent that changes are imminent at the highest levels of government.
Early Election Triggered by Coalition Conflicts
Almost 270,000 residents of the North Atlantic island, who were eligible to vote, were tasked with reallocating the 63 seats in parliament in the capital Reykjavik. The election was not originally scheduled until late summer 2025, but irreconcilable differences within Benediktsson’s three-party coalition, which spanned the political spectrum, led to the government’s collapse in mid-October
What factors led to the incumbent coalition government’s loss in the Icelandic parliamentary election?
## Iceland Set for Government Change After Tight Election
**(Interviewer)** Welcome back to the programme. Joining us today is Dr. Magnus Jonsson, a leading expert on Icelandic politics, to discuss the recent parliamentary elections. Dr. Jonsson, the elections were very close. Can you summarize the outcome for us?
**(Dr. Jonsson)** Certainly. As you mentioned, the elections were incredibly tight. The incumbent coalition government, which has been led by Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir since 2017, appears to have lost its majority. [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Icelandic_parliamentary_election)] The opposition, particularly the Social Democratic Alliance, has made significant gains and seems poised to form a new government.
**(Interviewer)** Wow, that’s a major shift. What factors do you think contributed to this change?
**(Dr. Jonsson)** Several factors seem to have played a role. There’s been growing public dissatisfaction with the pace of progress on key issues like housing affordability and healthcare.
The Social Democratic Alliance effectively capitalized on these concerns, presenting themselves as a viable alternative.
**(Interviewer)** So, what can we expect next? Will we see a new coalition government formed?
**(Dr. Jonsson)** That’s the most likely scenario. The Social Democratic Alliance will need to negotiate with other parties to build a stable majority. It remains to be seen who their coalition partners will be, but I anticipate discussions will be intense in the coming weeks.
**(Interviewer)** And what are the potential implications of a change in government for Iceland?
**(Dr. Jonsson)** A new government could bring about significant policy changes, particularly in areas like social welfare, environmental protection, and economic development. The exact impact will depend on the composition of the new coalition and their priorities.
**(Interviewer)** Dr. Jonsson, thank you very much for sharing your insights with us today. It seems the political landscape in Iceland is experiencing a significant transition.
