| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Althingi / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
29 October 2016 |
| Purpose of elections |
The Independence Party (IP), led by Mr. Bjarni Benediktsson, became the largest force in the new Parliament. The IP had dominated Icelandic politics since the country gained independence from Denmark in 1944, and was part of the outgoing coalition government. The other coalition partner, Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson's Progressive Party (PP), finished fourth, and saw its number of seats reduced from 19 to 8. The Pirate Party, led by Ms. Birgitta Jónsdóttir, more than tripled its seats to 10, winning the same number as the Left - Green Movement (LGM), led by Ms. Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
Early elections in 2016 were held six months after the publication of the Panama Papers - millions of documents relating to offshore bank accounts - sparked scandals in several countries including Iceland. Public protests demanded the resignation of the then Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson (PP), whose name appeared in the documents. The then President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson (independent) refused Mr. Gunnlaugsson's request to dissolve Parliament and called for the formation of a new government. The PP and the IP named Mr. Jóhannsson (PP) as the new Prime Minister, promising elections before the end of 2016.
During the election campaign, the major parties focused on tax reforms, economic recovery, as well as transparency and Internet freedom. The elections recorded the country's lowest ever turnout, at 79.19%. A record 30 women were elected (47.62 per cent).
|
Date of previous elections: 27 April 2013
Timing of election:Early elections
Expected date of next elections: October 2020
Number of seats at stake: 63 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 1,302 (716 men, 586 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 45%
Number of parties contesting the election: 12
Number of parties winning seats: 7
Alternation of power: Yes
Number of parties in government: 3
Names of parties in government: Independence Party (IP), Reform Party, Bright Future
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 6 December 2016
Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Unnur Brá Konráðsdóttir (Independence Party, IP) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 29 October 2016 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
246'515
195'200 (79.18%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Independence Party (IP) |
21
|
|
|
|
|
| Left - Green Movement (LGM) |
10
|
|
|
|
|
| Pirate Party |
10
|
|
|
|
|
| Progressive Party (PP) |
8
|
|
|
|
|
| Reform Party |
7
|
|
|
|
|
| Bright Future |
4
|
|
|
|
|
| Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
33
30
47.62%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
Parliament (31.10.2016)
Department of Local Government and Human Rights (18.11.2016)
http://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/elections-2016-results/
http://www.bbc.com
https://www.theguardian.com
http://www.reuters.com
http://icelandreview.com/
http://www.landskjor.is/
http://www.icenews.is/
http://icelandmonitor.mbl.is |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
