Iceland’s Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson announces parliament dissolution and elections on November 30

In a session this morning, Iceland’s Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson officially announced the dissolution of parliament and the upcoming elections, set for November 30. He acknowledged the end of what has been the country’s longest-running coalition government comprised of three parties. During his speech, he characterized the government’s term as a mixture of progress and challenges, urging lawmakers to collaboratively approve a cautious budget despite the absence of a functioning majority.

Bjarni expressed pride in the government’s work and emphasized that politicians should not complain about early elections, but instead celebrate their opportunity to engage with the public. He called for a dignified conclusion to their duties, focusing on the responsibilities citizens entrusted to them and preparing for an honorable electoral campaign.

However, opposition leader Svandís Svavarsdóttir criticized Bjarni’s leadership, declaring him unfit to lead the government. She revealed that decisions regarding the dissolution and new elections were made without adequate discussion in the cabinet. Svandís noted that Bjarni took actions as the leader of his party rather than as Prime Minister, failing to properly prepare or consult his government.

Svandís indicated that the formal processes surrounding the parliamentary dissolution and election announcements would be fulfilled later today in a cabinet meeting, asserting that her party, the Left-Green Movement, would not participate in the interim government due to a significant lack of confidence in Bjarni’s ability to govern. She argued that the government’s focus should have been on vital issues such as the economy and housing, rather than controversial policies on asylum seekers and energy shortages, reflecting an inability to address the needs of ordinary citizens.