New poll gives narrow lead to EU talks supporters

A new Maskína poll gives the yes side a narrow lead ahead of Iceland’s referendum on resuming membership talks with the European Union, mbl.is reported. Among respondents who expressed a preference, 51.3 percent said they intended to vote yes and 48.7 percent no.

The poll was conducted from 21 to 25 August, according to Vísir.

In the referendum on 29 August, voters will answer the question: “Should Iceland resume membership negotiations with the European Union?”

The yes side received 52.2 percent in the previous poll, published on 13 August, compared with 47.8 percent for the no side. A poll conducted at the end of July gave the yes side 53 percent and the no side 47 percent.

A Maskína poll conducted in June recorded 53.1 percent support for the yes side and 46.9 percent for the no side, Vísir reported.