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Iceland – CNN


The North Atlantic island of 371,000 residents has seen a interval of stability since 2017 below the ruling left-right coalition, after years of political scandals and mistrust of politicians following the 2008 monetary disaster.

The present authorities coalition led by Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir’s Left-Inexperienced Motion gained its mandate on a promise to safe stability after Icelanders went to polls 5 occasions from 2007 to 2017.

In 2017, the Left-Greens, who name themselves a “radical left wing occasion,” teamed up with unlikely companions — the pro-business Independence Get together and the center-right Progressive Get together — to the anger of some within the occasion grassroots.

Whereas Jakobsdóttir stays fashionable, polls recommend her occasion will lose assist, marking the top of her coalition. Help for the Independence Get together, Iceland’s largest occasion, can also be declining, however the election consequence should still give former Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson a mandate to type a brand new authorities.

A shattered political panorama will make it tough to type a brand new authorities, however Jakobsdóttir might search a coalition with different left-wing events that opinion polls recommend will achieve assist.

“If we get such a authorities, we’re going to see some modifications relating to taxation of the wealthy, and environmental questions are going to be extra vital,” stated Baldvin Bergsson, political analyst at broadcaster RUV.

Climate change is a vital situation for Icelanders, who wish to name their nation the “Land of Fireplace and Ice” due to its other-worldly panorama of volcanoes and glaciers used within the HBO TV sequence “Sport of Thrones.”

Iceland has already pledged to attain carbon neutrality by 2040, nicely forward of most different European nations, however particularly youthful voters are pushing for even bolder steps.

Left-wing events are additionally calling for extra authorities spending on healthcare, which has been an important subject within the election.

Shorter working week trials an 'overwhelming success' in Iceland

Profitable weathering of the pandemic and the lifting of coronavirus restrictions has reopened borders, offering a wanted increase to the important tourism sector, which attracted some 2 million international guests in 2019.

“The pandemic was an enormous blow to the vital tourism trade,” stated Stefania Oskarsdottir, a political scientist at College of Iceland, including that top public spending has fueled optimism.

“Regardless of popping out of a deep recession, the typical Icelander feels that these are good occasions,” she stated.

Polls open at 04:00 EST on Saturday and shut at 17:00 EST with a closing consequence anticipated on Sunday morning.



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