Young voters credited with Iceland’s referendum result

Icelandic campaign group Ung gegn ESB-aðild, which led the “X No” campaign, has welcomed the result of the referendum, mbl.is reports.

“It is clear that young people determined the outcome of the vote,” the group said in a statement. In the middle of the summer, only about 40 per cent of young people intended to vote no. In the final Gallup poll before election day, 60 per cent said their generation should have the same opportunities as earlier generations in Iceland and that the final say should be theirs.

“The result of the vote is fully consistent with that development,” the statement said.

The group’s board thanked the large number of volunteers who had supported its cause in recent weeks, saying the result would not have been achieved without them.

“The Icelandic nation has spoken. Iceland will remain outside the European Union. The final say on our affairs will continue to belong to us Icelanders, on our terms and for Iceland,” the statement said.