MP opposes electoral changes and calls for constituency reshuffle

Ólafur Adolfsson, chairman of the Independence Party’s parliamentary group, has opposed proposed changes to Iceland’s electoral system and said a reshuffling of constituencies would be more appropriate, mbl.is reported.

Adolfsson, who represents the Northwest constituency, said it was more difficult for MPs from rural areas to serve large constituencies than for MPs representing the capital region. He warned that the proposals would weaken the rural voice in parliament.

The proposals would increase the number of equalisation seats from nine to 27 without increasing the total number of MPs. They would also transfer four parliamentary seats from the North to the Southwest constituency.

“As the number of MPs decreases, this will become even more difficult. I think it would perhaps be better to look at some kind of reshuffling of the constituencies,” Adolfsson told mbl.is.

He said most public services were increasingly being concentrated in the capital region, where all institutions were located, making it difficult for people outside the region to have their interests addressed.

Adolfsson said the difference in the weight of votes could always be debated, but argued that rural areas needed to retain a voice. If the changes were approved, he said, the system would become less fair.

“Rural MPs generally believe that we are getting quite far in cutting back on the number of MPs representing rural areas,” he said.