Icelandic voters have joined the worldwide pattern of punishing incumbent presidents in parliamentary elections, with a centre-left celebration successful the biggest share of votes.
With all of the votes gained on Sunday, the Social Democratic Alliance gained 15 seats within the 63-seat Althingi parliament – greater than double the overall – and secured nearly 21% of the vote, based on nationwide broadcaster RUV.
The conservative Independence Party, which led the outgoing authorities, had 14 seats and a vote share of 19.4 p.c, whereas the centrist Liberal Reform Party had 11 seats and about 16 p.c of the vote.
Three different events additionally gained seats. Social Democrat chief Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir, 36, will doubtless search coalition companions to command a parliamentary majority.
Icelanders voted Saturday after disagreements over immigration, power coverage and the economic system pressured Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to drag the plug on his coalition authorities and name early elections.
The counting was delayed in some areas by snowstorms that blocked roads and slowed the supply of poll bins to counting facilities.
Since the 2008 monetary disaster devastated the economic system and ushered in a brand new period of political instability, Iceland has been ruled by multiparty coalitions of assorted shades.
Like many Western international locations, Iceland has been hit by rising prices of dwelling and immigration pressures, and voters are taking it out on incumbent governments. Benediktsson’s Independence Party and its coalition companions within the outgoing authorities, the Progressive Party and the Left Greens, all noticed their vote share and variety of seats decline, with the Left Greens shedding all eight parliamentary seats.
Iceland, a volcanic island nation nestled beneath the Arctic Circle with a inhabitants of fewer than 400,000, takes delight in its democratic traditions. The Althingi, based in 930 by Viking settlers, might be the oldest legislature on this planet.
Voter turnout was excessive by worldwide requirements, with 80% of registered voters voting.
