Independence Party (Iceland)

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.

This article is about the modern Independence Party. For the historical Independence Party, see Independence Party (Iceland, historical).

Independence Party
Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn
ChairpersonBjarni Benediktsson
Vice-chairpersonÞórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir
SecretaryVilhjálmur Árnason
Parliamentary group chairpersonHildur Sverrisdóttir
Chief ExecutiveÞórður Þórarinsson
FounderJón Þorláksson
Sigurður Eggerz
Founded25 May 1929 (1929-05-25)
Merger ofConservative Party
Liberal Party
HeadquartersHáaleitisbraut 1,
105 Reykjavík
Youth wingYoung Independents
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right to right-wing
European affiliationEuropean People's Party
International affiliationInternational Democrat Union
Nordic affiliationConservative Group
Colours  Blue
Seats in Parliament
17 / 63
Election symbol
Website
xd.is

It was formed in 1929 through a merger of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. 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,[1] favouring privatisation,[2] and opposed to interventionism. Positioned ideologically on the centre-right[3][4][5] to right-wing of the political spectrum,[6][7] the party is most strongly supported by fishermen and high-income earners.[8] A longstanding member of the International Democrat Union, in September 2023 the party obtained associate member status of the European People's Party.

History

The Independence Party was founded on 25 May 1929 through a merger of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. It readopted the name of the historical Independence Party, which had split between the Conservatives and Liberals in 1927.[9] 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]

Ideology and platform

The Independence Party has been described as conservative,[13] liberal-conservative,[14][15] and conservative-liberal.[16][17][18]

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.[19] The party, like the British Conservatives, states a claim to be primarily 'pragmatic', as opposed to ideological,[8][20][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.[8] It was originally committed to laissez-faire economics, but shifted its economic policies leftwards in the 1930s, accepting the creation of a welfare state.[20]

The party is liberal concerning social issues and has historically been less conservative than other centre-right parties in Scandinavia.[20] 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.[24]

Organisation and support
Politics of Iceland
Government
Legislature
Executive
Judiciary
Elections
Political parties
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
flag Iceland portal

Historically, the party has been the most successful liberal conservative party in the Nordic countries.[19] It has a broad base of support, but is most strongly supported by Iceland's large fishing community and by businesses.[8] On the largest divide in Icelandic politics, between urban and rural areas, the Independence Party is firmly supported by rural areas, but its urban support is mostly found in Garðabær and Kópavogur.

The Independence Party has always attempted to avoid appealing to a specific social class.[25] 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.[26] However, most of its strength is in the middle class,[24][27] and the party is disproportionately supported by those on high incomes and those with university educations.[8]

The party has long been endorsed by Morgunblaðið,[24] an Icelandic newspaper of record.[28] 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.[20]

The party has a tradition of individualism and strong personalities, which has proven difficult for the leadership to manage.[29] 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.[20] 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.[21]

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.[30]

The party has a very large membership base, with 15% of the total population being a member of the party.[31]

International relations

For years the Independence party has been a member of the International Democrat Union, which includes members such as the Conservative Party (Norway), Moderate Party (Sweden), The Republicans (France), the National Coalition Party (Finland), and Christian Democratic Union of 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
Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
1931 16,891 43.8
15 / 42
 Steady 9 Steady 2nd Opposition
1933 17,131 48.0
20 / 42
 Increase 5 Increase 1st Coalition
1934 21,974 42.3
20 / 49
 Increase 0 Steady 1st Opposition
1937 24,132 41.3
17 / 49
 Decrease 3 Decrease 2nd Opposition
1942 (Jul) 22,975 39.5
17 / 49
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Minority
1942 (Oct) 23,001 38.5
20 / 52
 Increase 3 Increase 1st Opposition
1946 26,428 39.5
20 / 52
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1949 28,546 39.5
19 / 52
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Minority
1953 28,738 37.1
21 / 52
 Increase 2 Steady 1st Coalition
1956 35,027 42.4
19 / 52
 Decrease 2 Steady 1st Opposition
1959 (Jun) 36,029 42.5
20 / 52
 Increase 1 Steady 1st Opposition
1959 (Oct) 33,800 39.7
24 / 60
 Increase 4 Steady 1st Coalition
1963 37,021 41.4
24 / 60
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1967 36,036 37.5
23 / 60
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Coalition
1971 38,170 36.2
22 / 60
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Opposition
1974 48,764 42.7
25 / 60
 Increase 3 Steady 1st Coalition
1978 39,982 32.7
20 / 60
 Decrease 5 Steady 1st Opposition
1979 43,838 35.4
21 / 60
 Increase 1 Steady 1st Opposition
1983 50,251 38.6
23 / 60
 Increase 2 Steady 1st Coalition
1987 41,490 27.2
18 / 63
 Decrease 5 Steady 1st Coalition
1991 60,836 38.6
26 / 63
 Increase 8 Steady 1st Coalition
1995 61,183 37.1
25 / 63
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Coalition
1999 67,513 40.7
26 / 63
 Increase 1 Steady 1st Coalition
2003 61,701 33.6
22 / 63
 Decrease 4 Steady 1st Coalition
2007 66,754 36.6
25 / 63
 Increase 3 Steady 1st Coalition
2009 44,371 23.7
16 / 63
 Decrease 9 Decrease 2nd Opposition
2013 50,454 26.7
19 / 63
 Increase 3 Increase 1st Coalition
2016 54,990 29.0
21 / 63
 Increase 2 Steady 1st Coalition
2017 49,543 25.2
16 / 63
 Decrease 5 Steady 1st Coalition
2021 48,708 24.4
16 / 63
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition

Leadership
Nº Chairman Took office Left office Duration
1 Jón Þorláksson
(1877–1935)		 29 May 1929 2 October 1934 5 years, 4 months, 3 days
(1,952 days)
2 Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)		 2 October 1934 22 October 1961 27 years, 20 days
(9,882 days)
3 Bjarni Benediktsson
(1908–1970)		 22 October 1961 10 July 1970 8 years, 8 months, 18 days
(3,183 days)
4 Jóhann Hafstein
(1915–1980)		 10 July 1970 12 October 1973 3 years, 3 months, 2 days
(1,190 days)
5 Geir Hallgrímsson
(1925–1990)		 12 October 1973 6 November 1983 10 years, 25 days
(3,677 days)
6 Þorsteinn Pálsson
(1947)		 6 November 1983 10 March 1991 7 years, 4 months, 4 days
(2,681 days)
7 Davíð Oddsson
(1948)		 10 March 1991 16 October 2005 14 years, 7 months, 6 days
(5,334 days)
8 Geir Haarde
(1951)		 16 October 2005 29 March 2009 3 years, 5 months, 13 days
(1,260 days)
9 Bjarni Benediktsson
(1970)		 29 March 2009 Present 14 years, 210 days
(5323 days)

Footnotes
  1. Siaroff, Alan, The Effects of Differing Electoral Systems on Party Politics, Government Formation and Voter Turnout, p. 69
  2. Fontaine, Andie Sophia (February 23, 2021). Iceland’s Political Parties: Who Are These People? The Reykjavik Grapevine. Retrieved: 1 3 September 2021.
  3. Nordic States and European Integration: Awkward Partners in the North? p.106. Edited by Malin Stegmann McCallion and Alex Brianson. Published by Palgrave Macmillan. First published in 2017. Published in Cham, Switzerland. Accessed via Google Books.
  4. "Iceland election: Independence Party still has most seats". BBC News. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  5. "Politics in Iceland: A beginner's guide".
  6. 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. Deloy, Corinne (2 May 2013). "The rightwing opposition wins in the general elections in Iceland". Robert Schuman Foundation.
  8. Siaroff, Alan (2000). Comparative European party systems: an analysis of parliamentary elections. London: Taylor & Francis. p. 295. ISBN 978-0-8153-2930-5.
  9. McHale, Vincent E.; Skowronski, Sharon (1983). Political Parties of Europe: Albania-Norway. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. p. 522. ISBN 978-0-313-23804-8.
  10. Tomasson (1980), pp. 41–2
  11. "Iceland election: centre-right parties lose majority". the Guardian. 29 October 2017.
  12. "New Government of Iceland Takes Office". Iceland Monitor. 29 November 2021.
  13. Bale, Tim (2021). Riding the populist wave: Europe's mainstream right in crisis. Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-009-00686-6. OCLC 1256593260.
  14. Agust Thor Arnason (2006). "The European Union Seen From the Top – A View of an Inside-Outsider". In Joakim Nergelius (ed.). Nordic and Other European Constitutional Traditions. BRILL. p. 34. ISBN 978-90-474-0978-6.
  15. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017). "Iceland". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  16. Europe in Revolt. Catarina Príncipe, Bhaskar Sunkara. Chicago, Illinois: Haymarket Books. 2016. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-60846-658-0. OCLC 952667068.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  17. Bértoa, Fernando Casal (2021). Party system closure : party alliances, government alternatives, and democracy in Europe. Zsolt Enyedi (1 ed.). Oxford. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-19-255668-4. OCLC 1250648339.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  18. Kopecek, Lubomír; Hloušek, Vít (2013). Origin, Ideology and Transformation of Political Parties: East-Central and Western Europe Compared. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 89. ISBN 978-1409499770.
  19. Hansen, Erik Jørgen (2006). Welfare trends in the Scandinavian countries, Part 2. New York: M. E. Sharpe. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-87332-844-9.
  20. Tomasson (1980), p. 42
  21. Cross, William (2007). Democratic reform in New Brunswick. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press. pp. 68–9. ISBN 978-1-55130-326-0.
  22. Woods, Leigh; Gunnarsdóttir, Ágústa (1997). Public Selves and Political Stages. London: Routledge. p. 10. ISBN 978-3-7186-5873-2.
  23. Arter, David (2006). Democracy in Scandinavia. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-7190-7047-1.
  24. Gunnlaugsson, Helgi; Galliher, John F. (2000). Wayward Icelanders. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-299-16534-5.
  25. Jónsson, Ásgeir (2009). Why Iceland?. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-07-163284-3.
  26. Arter, David (1999). Scandinavian politics today. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-7190-5133-3.
  27. Gill, Derek; Ingman, Stanley R. (1994). Eldercare, distributive justice, and the welfare state. Albany: State University of New York Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-7914-1765-2.
  28. Pálsson, Gísli (2007). Anthropology and the new genetics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-521-67174-3.
  29. Siaroff, Alan (11 September 2002). Comparative European Party Systems: An Analysis of Parliamentary Elections Since 1945. Routledge. p. 291. ISBN 978-1-135-58024-7.
  30. "Vona að mitt framboð verði hvatning fyrir aðrar konur". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 16 September 1997. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  31. grapevine.is (3 April 2009). "The Independence Party featured in Grapevine Magazine". Grapevine.is. Retrieved 18 September 2017.

References
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