Political parties in Iceland prepare for 2024 general elections with intense candidate competition

Political parties in Iceland are currently assembling their candidate lists ahead of the 2024 general elections, with intense competition expected for the top spots in various constituencies.

In the Southwest constituency, member of parliament Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir and municipal council member Guðmundur Árni Stefánsson are both seeking to lead the list for the Social Democratic Alliance. Þórunn previously spearheaded the list in the last elections, while Guðmundur is the party’s representative on the Hafnarfjörður city council. The party secured one seat in this constituency during the last election, but recent polls suggest it could gain additional seats this time around. The constituency council will meet tonight to establish a nomination committee, which will have ten days to propose a candidate list. Voting on this proposal will take place on October 26.

Meanwhile, the Independence Party is facing a contest for leadership positions in the Northeast and Northwest constituencies. Both Njáll Trausti Friðbertsson, a sitting MP, and Jens Garðar Helgason are vying to head the list in the Northeast, where the party previously elected two MPs. The constituency council will convene on Sunday to vote on the top four candidates.

In the Northwest constituency, incumbents Teitur Björn Einarsson and Ólafur Adolfsson are competing for the first position on their list. Former leader Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir has opted to shift to the Southwest constituency, a region the Independence Party previously captured four seats in last elections.

Lastly, the new election list for the Reform Party in Reykjavik will be arranged through nominations, with three candidates—Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, and former mayor Jón Gnarr—expressing interest in leading the list.