Social Democrats win Iceland’s snap elections as incumbents punished
Al JazeeraDec 04, 2024
The incumbent Independence Party suffered its worst-ever result with 19.4% of votes and 14 seats, marking the first time the party fell below 20% support.The Social Democratic Alliance emerged as Iceland's largest party following a snap election, with 20.8% of votes and 15 parliamentary seats. The result more than doubles their previous popular support and representation in the 63-seat parliament.
Despite challenging weather conditions, voter turnout reached 80.2% of Iceland's 268,422 eligible voters, demonstrating strong democratic participation.The incumbent Independence Party, who has governed for seven years, suffered its worst-ever result with 19.4% of votes and 14 seats – marking the first time the party has fallen below 20% support.
The election resulted in significant political changes with 34 out of 63 parliamentary seats being filled by new representatives, while established parties like the Left Greens lost all their seats.The election resulted in 34 out of 63 parliamentary seats being filled by new representatives, with the Left Green Movement and the Pirate Party losing all of their seats.
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The Independence Party actually exceeded expectations, rising from 14% in early polls to 19.4% in the final count, showing resilient support despite challenging circumstances and maintaining its position as a major political force.