Iceland’s Social Democrats win election, unseating ruling coalition

Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir, chief of the Samfylking, Social Democratic social gathering, proper, celebrates with a supporter on the celebration social gathering following the closure of the polling stations in Reykjavik, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AP

Iceland’s centre-left Social Democratic Alliance grew to become the largest social gathering in a snap election that unseated the ruling coalition of the previous seven years, the ultimate rely confirmed on Sunday (December 1, 2024).

The Social Democrats, led by Kristrun Frostadottir, gained 15 seats within the 63-seat parliament with 20.8% of votes, state broadcaster RUV reported.

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Frostadottir, 36, took over as social gathering chief two years in the past and has championed the Nordic welfare mannequin, vowing to sort out a cost-of-living disaster sparked by excessive inflation and borrowing prices.

Opinion polls forward of the election had forecast the three ruling coalition events – the Independence Celebration, the Left-Inexperienced Motion and the Progressive Celebration – to be the largest losers.

Nevertheless, the Independence Celebration, led by Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson, got here second with 19.4% of votes, gaining 14 seats after a late surge in help, whereas the Liberal Reform Celebration was third with 15.8% and 11 seats.

Events require 32 seats for a majority within the Althingi parliament.

The Left-Inexperienced Motion, previously led by Katrin Jakobsdottir earlier than she stepped down as prime minister in April to run for president, did not win any seats.

The snap election was referred to as final month after escalating coalition disagreements and public discontent over migration and vitality and housing points.