Iceland MPs split over restarting EU membership talks

More Icelandic MPs plan to reject than support restarting membership negotiations with the European Union, according to mbl.is. Of the 63 members of the Althing, 29 say they will vote yes in Saturday’s referendum, while 30 intend to vote no. Four have not disclosed their position.

The referendum will ask whether Iceland should resume membership negotiations with the European Union.

Among the 35 members of the governing parties, 28 plan to vote yes, four no and three have not disclosed their position. Of the 27 opposition MPs, 26 plan to vote no and one has not disclosed a position.

Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson, who sits outside the parliamentary party groups and previously served as a minister for the People’s Party, plans to vote yes.

The positions were compiled by mbl.is from MPs’ speeches, articles, interviews and replies to questions from the news organisation.

Social Democratic Alliance

All 15 MPs in the Social Democratic Alliance plan to vote yes.

They are Alma D. Möller, minister of health; Arna Lára Jónsdóttir, deputy chair of the parliamentary group and chair of the Economic and Trade Affairs Committee; Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir; Dagbjört Hákonardóttir; Dagur B. Eggertsson; Eydís Ásbjörnsdóttir; Guðmundur Ari Sigurjónsson, chair of the parliamentary group; Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, minister of environment, energy and climate; Kristján Þórður Snæbjarnarson; Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir; Logi Einarsson, minister for Nordic cooperation and minister of culture, innovation and higher education; Ragna Sigurðardóttir; Sigmundur Ernir Rúnarsson; Víðir Reynisson, chair of the General and Education Affairs Committee; and Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir.

Viðreisn

All 11 MPs in Viðreisn plan to vote yes.

They are Eiríkur Björn Björgvinsson; Grímur Grímsson; Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, minister of business affairs; Ingvar Þóroddsson; Jón Gnarr; María Rut Kristinsdóttir, deputy chair of the parliamentary group and chair of the Environment and Transport Committee; Pawel Bartoszek, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Sandra Sigurðardóttir; Sigmar Guðmundsson, chair of the parliamentary group; Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, minister of justice; and Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, minister for foreign affairs and chair of Viðreisn.

People’s Party

Two of the People’s Party’s MPs plan to vote yes, four no and three have not disclosed their position.

Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir, chair of the parliamentary group, has not disclosed her position. Infrastructure Minister Eyjólfur Ármannsson plans to vote no. Education and Children’s Affairs Minister Inga Sæland plans to vote yes. Jónína Björk Óskarsdóttir plans to vote no. Kolbrún Áslaugar Baldursdóttir, chair of the Welfare Committee, plans to vote yes. Lilja Rafney Magnúsdóttir, chair of the Business Affairs Committee, plans to vote no. Social Affairs and Housing Minister Ragnar Þór Ingólfsson has not disclosed his position. Sigurður Helgi Pálmason has not disclosed his position. Sigurjón Þórðarson, deputy chair of the parliamentary group and chair of the Budget Committee, plans to vote no.