Iceland vote appears set to reject renewed EU talks

Iceland’s referendum on whether to resume membership talks with the European Union appeared headed for a rejection, mbl.is reported as final results began arriving from the country’s constituencies.

In the Southern Constituency, 20,597 voters, or 60.5 percent, voted against reopening negotiations, while 13,473, or 39.5 percent, voted in favour. Turnout was 81.4 percent, with 34,305 of 42,136 eligible votes counted.

Final results were also reported from the Northwestern Constituency, where the no side was reported to have won 62.9 percent of the vote.

The referendum asked whether Iceland should begin membership negotiations with the European Union again.