In a recent parliamentary election in Iceland, voters chose to punish the incumbents, with the centre-left Social Democratic Alliance winning the largest share of votes. The party secured 15 seats in the 63-seat parliament, more than doubling its total, and received almost 21% of the votes. The conservative Independence Party, the former ruling party, had 14 seats and a 19.4% vote share, while the centrist Liberal Reform Party secured 11 seats and around 16% of votes. Three other parties also won seats in the election.
The election was called after disagreements over immigration, energy policy, and the economy led Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to dissolve the coalition government and call for early elections. Social Democrat leader Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir, 36, is now expected to form a coalition government to command a parliamentary majority.
Since the 2008 financial crisis, Iceland has been governed by multi-party coalitions, and like many Western countries, the nation has been dealing with rising costs of living and immigration pressures. Incumbent parties saw declines in their vote share and seat count, with the Left Greens losing all eight of its parliamentary seats.
Iceland, known for its democratic traditions, saw a high voter turnout of 80% in this election. The Althingi, founded in 930 by Viking settlers, is considered one of the oldest legislatures in the world. The results of this election reflect a global trend of voters turning against incumbent governments.
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