Independence Party (Iceland) Explained

Independence Party
Chairperson:Bjarni Benediktsson
Vice-Chairperson:Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir
Leader1 Title:Secretary
Leader1 Name:Vilhjálmur Árnason
Leader2 Title:Parliamentary group chairperson
Leader2 Name:Hildur Sverrisdóttir
Leader3 Title:Chief Executive
Leader3 Name:Þórður Þórarinsson
Founder:Jón Þorláksson
Sigurður Eggerz
Merger:Conservative Party
Liberal Party
Headquarters:Háaleitisbraut 1,
105 Reykjavík
Youth Wing:Young Independents
European:European People's Party (associate member)
International:International Democracy Union
Affiliation Title:Nordic affiliation
Affiliation:Conservative Group
Colours: Blue

The Independence Party (Icelandic: Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) is a conservative political party in Iceland. It is currently the largest party in the Alþingi, with 17 seats. The chairman of the party is Bjarni Benediktsson and the vice chairman of the party is Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir.

It was formed in 1929 through a merger of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party.[1] This united the two parties advocating the dissolution of the Union of Denmark and Iceland; dissolution was achieved in 1944, during the German occupation of Denmark. Since its formation in 1929, the party has won the largest share of the vote in every election except the 2009 election, when it fell behind the Social Democratic Alliance. Every Independence Party leader has also at some point held the office of Prime Minister. Since 2013, there have been three different coalition governments in Iceland, all of which have included the Independence Party.

On fiscal issues, the Independence Party is economically liberal, favouring privatisation,[2] and opposed to interventionism. Positioned ideologically on the centre-right[3] [4] [5] of the political spectrum,[6] [7] the party is most strongly supported by fishermen and high-income earners. A longstanding member of the International Democracy Union, in September 2023 the party obtained associate member status in the European People's Party.

History

Established on 25 May 1929, the Independence Party was founded through a merger of the Conservative Party (1924) and the Liberal Party (1925).[8] It readopted the name of the historical Independence Party, which had split between the Conservatives and Liberals in 1927.[9] The fusion of the Icelandic conservative and liberal parties resulted in the ascension of the Independence Party to prominence, firmly establishing it as the primary non-socialist force in Scandinavian politics. From its first election, in 1931, it was the largest party in Iceland.[10]

The Independence Party won the 2007 elections, increasing their seat tally in the Althing by 3. It formed a new coalition government under Geir Haarde with the Social Democratic Alliance, after the Progressive Party lost heavily in the elections. In the 2009 elections, the party dropped from 25–26 to 16 seats in the Althing, becoming Iceland's second-largest party following the Social Democratic Alliance (which gained two seats, to 20.)

The Independence Party re-entered government after the general elections in 2013, gaining 19 seats in parliament and the most votes again becoming Iceland's largest party. The Independence Party hence formed a majority government with the Progressive Party with Bjarni becoming Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs under the premiership of Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson chairman of the Progressive Party. The government coalition was ended after the Panama Papers revealed that Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Bjarni Benediktsson and other known members of the Independence Party held funds in offshore bank accounts. The general election in 2016 yielded a government consisting of the Independence Party, Bright Future and the Reform Party. With the Independence Party holding 21 seats in Parliament. That government then proceeded to fall apart due to Bjarni Benediktsson's father's ties to a convicted child sex offender that had his criminal records cleared by the Minister of the interior, an Independence Party MP. After the general elections 2017, called after much backlash from this decision, the Independence party formed a new government with the Left-Green Movement and the Progressive Party. The Independence Party had 17 seats in Parliament.[11]

After the 2021 parliamentary election, the new government was, just like the previous government, a tri-party coalition of the Independence Party, the Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement, headed by Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Left-Green Movement.[12] In April 2024, Bjarni Benediktsson replaced Katrín Jakobsdóttir as prime minister.[13]

Ideology and platform

The Independence Party has been described as conservative,[14] liberal-conservative,[15] [16] and conservative-liberal.[17] [18] [19]

The party has been the sole major politically right-leaning party in Iceland since its inception, and has captured a broad cross-section of centre-right voters. As a result, the party is not as far to the right as most right-wing parties in other Nordic countries, serving as a 'catch-all' party.[20] The party, like the British Conservatives, states a claim to be primarily 'pragmatic', as opposed to ideological,[21] and its name is seen as an allusion to being independent of dogma (with the original meaning, promoting independence from Denmark, having been achieved long ago).[22] For most of its period of political dominance, the party has relied upon coalition government, and has made coalitions with many major parties in parliament.[23]

The Independence Party has generally been economically liberal and advocated limited government intervention in the economy. It was originally committed to laissez-faire economics, but shifted its economic policies leftwards in the 1930s, accepting the creation of a welfare state.[24]

The party is liberal concerning social issues and has historically been less conservative than other centre-right parties in Scandinavia. The party was the only consistent advocate for the end of prohibition of beer, and provided three-quarters of voters in favour of legalisation; the ban was lifted in 1989.[25]

Organisation and support

Historically, the party has been the most successful liberal conservative party in the Nordic countries.[20] It has a broad base of support, but is most strongly supported by Iceland's large fishing community and by businesses.[26] The Independence Party support is mostly found in the South and Southwest.

The Independence Party has always attempted to avoid appealing to a specific social class.[27] As such, the party is relatively successful at attracting working-class voters,[23] which partly comes from the party's strong advocacy of independence in the 1930s.[28] However, most of its strength is in the middle class,[25] [29] and the party is disproportionately supported by those on high incomes and those with university educations.[26]

The party has long been endorsed by Morgunblaðið,[25] an Icelandic newspaper of record.[30] Davíð Oddsson, Iceland's longest-serving Prime Minister and former leader of the Independence Party, is one of two editors of the paper. The party was also historically supported by the afternoon newspaper Vísir, now part of DV.[24]

The party has a tradition of individualism and strong personalities, which has proven difficult for the leadership to manage.[31] The Commonwealth Party split in 1941, while the Republican Party left in 1953, both in opposition to the leftwards shift of the party away from classical liberalism.[24] Neither splinter group managed to get seats in Althingi and both vanished quickly. The Citizens' Party split from the party in 1983, but collapsed in 1994.

Its youth wing, Young Independents, is by far the largest youth organisation in Iceland, with over 12,000 members. It is slightly more classically liberal than the senior party.[32]

The party has a very large membership base, with 15% of the total population being a member of the party.[33]

International relations

For years the Independence party has been a member of the International Democracy Union, which includes members such as the Conservative Party (Norway), Moderate Party (Sweden), The Republicans (France), the National Coalition Party (Finland), and the Christian Democratic Union (Germany). In 2011, the party joined the European Conservatives and Reformists Party, a centre-right Eurosceptic political organisation, but withdrew in 2021. In September 2023 it joined the pro-EU European People's Party as an associate member.

Election results

ElectionVotes%Seats+/–PositionGovernment
193116,89143.8 9 2nd
193317,13148.0 5 1st
193421,97442.3 0 1st
193724,13241.3 3 2nd
1942 (Jul)22,97539.5 0 2nd
1942 (Oct)23,00138.5 3 1st
194626,42839.5 0 1st
194928,54639.5 1 1st
195328,73837.1 2 1st
195635,02742.4 2 1st
1959 (Jun)36,02942.5 1 1st
1959 (Oct)33,80039.7 4 1st
196337,02141.4 0 1st
196736,03637.5 1 1st
197138,17036.2 1 1st
197448,76442.7 3 1st
197839,98232.7 5 1st
197943,83835.4 1 1st
198350,25138.6 2 1st
198741,49027.2 5 1st
199160,83638.6 8 1st
199561,18337.1 1 1st
199967,51340.7 1 1st
200361,70133.6 4 1st
200766,75436.6 3 1st
200944,37123.7 9 2nd
201350,45426.7 3 1st
201654,99029.0 2 1st
201749,54325.2 5 1st
202148,70824.4 0 1st

Leadership

ChairmanTook officeLeft officeDuration
1Jón Þorláksson
(1877–1935)
29 May 19292 October 19345 years, 4 months, 3 days
(1,952 days)
2Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
2 October 193422 October 196127 years, 20 days
(9,882 days)
3Bjarni Benediktsson
(1908–1970)
22 October 196110 July 19708 years, 8 months, 18 days
(3,183 days)
4Jóhann Hafstein
(1915–1980)
10 July 197012 October 19733 years, 3 months, 2 days
(1,190 days)
5Geir Hallgrímsson
(1925–1990)
12 October 19736 November 198310 years, 25 days
(3,677 days)
6Þorsteinn Pálsson
(1947)
6 November 198310 March 19917 years, 4 months, 4 days
(2,681 days)
7Davíð Oddsson
(1948)
10 March 199116 October 200514 years, 7 months, 6 days
(5,334 days)
8Geir Haarde
(1951)
16 October 200529 March 20093 years, 5 months, 13 days
(1,260 days)
9Bjarni Benediktsson
(1970)
29 March 2009Present
(days)

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Arter, David . Scandinavian Politics Today . 1999-02-15 . Manchester University Press . 978-0-7190-5133-3 . 88 . en.
  2. Fontaine, Andie Sophia (February 23, 2021). Iceland’s Political Parties: Who Are These People? The Reykjavik Grapevine. Retrieved: 13 September 2021.
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=E3orDwAAQBAJ&dq=Conservative+centre-right+Independence+party+Iceland&pg=PA106 Nordic States and European Integration: Awkward Partners in the North?
  4. Web site: 29 October 2017 . Iceland election: Independence Party still has most seats . 30 October 2017 . BBC News.
  5. Web site: Politics in Iceland: A beginner’s guide. Iceland Monitor.
  6. Web site: Önnudóttir . Eva H. . Hardarson . Ólafur Th. . 11 December 2017 . Iceland 2017: A new government from left to right . Party Systems and Governments Observatory . University of Nottingham.
  7. Web site: Deloy . Corinne . 2 May 2013 . The rightwing opposition wins in the general elections in Iceland . . 15 May 2016 . 10 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221210093349/https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/eem/1439-the-rightwing-opposition-wins-in-the-general-elections-in-iceland . dead .
  8. Book: Cook . Chris . European Political Facts 1918–73 . Paxton . John . 1975-06-18 . Springer . 978-1-349-01535-1 . 177 . en.
  9. Book: McHale, Vincent E. . Political Parties of Europe: Albania-Norway . Skowronski, Sharon . 1983 . University of Michigan Press . Ann Arbor . 978-0-313-23804-8 . 522 .
  10. Tomasson (1980), pp. 41–2
  11. News: Iceland election: centre-right parties lose majority . the Guardian . 29 October 2017 . en.
  12. News: New Government of Iceland Takes Office . Iceland Monitor . 29 November 2021.
  13. News: Bryant . Miranda . correspondent . Miranda Bryant Nordic . Iceland appoints Bjarni Benediktsson to replace Katrín Jakobsdóttir as PM . The Guardian . 10 April 2024.
  14. Book: Bale, Tim . Riding the populist wave: Europe's mainstream right in crisis . 2021 . Cambridge University Press . . 978-1-009-00686-6 . Cambridge, United Kingdom . 34 . 1256593260.
  15. Book: Agust Thor Arnason. The European Union Seen From the Top – A View of an Inside-Outsider. Joakim Nergelius. Nordic and Other European Constitutional Traditions. https://books.google.com/books?id=dfR5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA34. 2006. BRILL. 978-90-474-0978-6. 34.
  16. Web site: Wolfram. Nordsieck. Iceland. Parties and Elections in Europe. 2017.
  17. Book: Europe in Revolt . 2016 . Haymarket Books . Catarina Príncipe, Bhaskar Sunkara . 978-1-60846-658-0 . Chicago, Illinois . 65 . 952667068.
  18. Book: Bértoa, Fernando Casal . Party system closure : party alliances, government alternatives, and democracy in Europe . 2021 . Zsolt Enyedi . 978-0-19-255668-4 . 1 . Oxford . 59 . 1250648339.
  19. Book: Kopecek . Lubomír . Origin, Ideology and Transformation of Political Parties: East-Central and Western Europe Compared . Hloušek . Vít . Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. . 2013 . 978-1409499770 . 89.
  20. Book: Hansen, Erik Jørgen . Welfare trends in the Scandinavian countries, Part 2 . 2006 . M. E. Sharpe . New York . 978-0-87332-844-9 . 81 .
  21. Book: Cross, William . Democratic reform in New Brunswick . 2007 . Canadian Scholars' Press . Toronto . 978-1-55130-326-0 . 68–9 .
  22. Book: Woods, Leigh . Public Selves and Political Stages . Gunnarsdóttir, Ágústa . 1997 . Routledge . London . 978-3-7186-5873-2 . 10 .
  23. Book: Arter, David . Democracy in Scandinavia . 2006 . Manchester University Press . Manchester . 978-0-7190-7047-1 . 50 .
  24. Tomasson (1980), p. 42
  25. Book: Gunnlaugsson, Helgi . Wayward Icelanders . Galliher, John F. . 2000 . University of Wisconsin Press . Madison . 978-0-299-16534-5 . 39 .
  26. Book: Siaroff, Alan . Comparative European party systems: an analysis of parliamentary elections . 2000 . Taylor & Francis . London . 978-0-8153-2930-5 . 295 .
  27. Book: Jónsson, Ásgeir . Why Iceland? . 2009 . McGraw-Hill . New York . 978-0-07-163284-3 . 140 .
  28. Book: Arter, David. Scandinavian politics today. registration. 1999. Manchester University Press. Manchester. 978-0-7190-5133-3. 91.
  29. Book: Eldercare, distributive justice, and the welfare state. Gill. Derek. Ingman, Stanley R.. 1994. State University of New York Press. Albany. 978-0-7914-1765-2. 90.
  30. Book: Pálsson, Gísli . Anthropology and the new genetics . 2007 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 978-0-521-67174-3 . 132 .
  31. Book: Siaroff . Alan . Comparative European Party Systems: An Analysis of Parliamentary Elections Since 1945 . 11 September 2002 . Routledge . 978-1-135-58024-7 . 291 . en.
  32. News: Vona að mitt framboð verði hvatning fyrir aðrar konur . . 16 September 1997 . 27 November 2011. is.
  33. Web site: grapevine.is . The Independence Party featured in Grapevine Magazine . Grapevine.is . 2009-04-03 . 2017-09-18.