ICELAND: parliamentary elections Althingi, 1999

ICELAND
Parliamentary Chamber: Althingi

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1999

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for ICELAND <<<

Chamber:

Althingi

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

8 May 1999

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

In the 1999 general elections, the ruling centre-right coalition comprising the Independence and Progressive parties was challenged by the newly founded United Left bloc consisting of the socialist People's Alliance, the Social Democratic Party and the Women's Alliance.
Debate during the generally calm campaign focused on domestic economic issues, with foreign policy being pushed to the background. The governing coalition, led by Prime Minister David Oddsson (of the conservative Independence Party -IP), pointed to its record of ushering in the country's impressive economic growth rate (+5% in the past three years), as well as falling unemployment and low inflation; in this context, it vowed to pursue its successful course and to continue privatizing companies, repaying the public debt and cutting taxes if the opportunity arose. The United Left, led by Ms. Margrét Frimannsdottir (People's Alliance), countered by calling for increased welfare spending by raising taxes on companies and unearned income, and for a fairer distribution of benefits from the above-mentioned, steady growth.
On polling day, the two government parties incurred a net loss of two seats as the centrist, rural-based Progressives, led by outgoing Foreign Minister Halldor Asgrimsson, dropped three of their previous total. However, given the voters' evident satisfaction with the generally favourable domestic situation, the United Left was unable to pierce through their opponents' parliamentary majority as the Left-Green Party, a breakaway group from the People's Alliance, captured six seats. Altogether 15 new Deputies were elected. Given this overall outcome, President of the Republic Olafur Ragnar Grimsson met with the leaders of the victorious parties and, on 28 May, a new coalition government (IP and the Progressive Party) once again headed by Mr. Oddsson (Prime Minister since 1991) took office.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (8 May 1999): Elections results

Number of registered electors 201 525

Voters 169 431 (84 %)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 3 705

Valid votes 165 726

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Votes %

Independence Party (IP) 67 513 40.74

United Left Party 44 377 26.78

Progressive Party (PP) 30 415 18.35

Left - Green Alliance 15 115 9.12

Liberal Party 6 919 4.17

Others 1 387 0.84

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

Independence Party (IP) 26

United Left Party 17

Progressive Party (PP) 12

Left - Green Alliance 6

Liberal Party 2

Others 0

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 41

Women: 22

Percent of women: 34.92

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for ICELAND <<<

Chamber:
	Althingi
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	8 May 1999
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	In the 1999 general elections, the ruling centre-right coalition comprising the Independence and Progressive parties was challenged by the newly founded United Left bloc consisting of the socialist People's Alliance, the Social Democratic Party and the Women's Alliance. Debate during the generally calm campaign focused on domestic economic issues, with foreign policy being pushed to the background. The governing coalition, led by Prime Minister David Oddsson (of the conservative Independence Party -IP), pointed to its record of ushering in the country's impressive economic growth rate (+5% in the past three years), as well as falling unemployment and low inflation; in this context, it vowed to pursue its successful course and to continue privatizing companies, repaying the public debt and cutting taxes if the opportunity arose. The United Left, led by Ms. Margrét Frimannsdottir (People's Alliance), countered by calling for increased welfare spending by raising taxes on companies and unearned income, and for a fairer distribution of benefits from the above-mentioned, steady growth. On polling day, the two government parties incurred a net loss of two seats as the centrist, rural-based Progressives, led by outgoing Foreign Minister Halldor Asgrimsson, dropped three of their previous total. However, given the voters' evident satisfaction with the generally favourable domestic situation, the United Left was unable to pierce through their opponents' parliamentary majority as the Left-Green Party, a breakaway group from the People's Alliance, captured six seats. Altogether 15 new Deputies were elected. Given this overall outcome, President of the Republic Olafur Ragnar Grimsson met with the leaders of the victorious parties and, on 28 May, a new coalition government (IP and the Progressive Party) once again headed by Mr. Oddsson (Prime Minister since 1991) took office.

Round no 1 (8 May 1999): Elections results
Number of registered electors	201 525
Voters	169 431 (84 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	3 705
Valid votes	165 726

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Independence Party (IP)	67 513	40.74
United Left Party	44 377	26.78
Progressive Party (PP)	30 415	18.35
Left - Green Alliance	15 115	9.12
Liberal Party	6 919	4.17
Others	1 387	0.84

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Independence Party (IP)	26
United Left Party	17
Progressive Party (PP)	12
Left - Green Alliance	6
Liberal Party	2
Others	0

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	41
Women:	22
Percent of women:	34.92