Katrín Jakobsdóttir addresses national conference of Left-Green Movement in Iceland

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the former leader of the Left-Green Movement, made an unexpected appearance at the party’s national conference that began today. She expressed gratitude to party members for their collaboration and reminded them of the challenges the party has faced in the past. The conference, which runs until Saturday, will culminate in the election of a new leader. Currently, Svandís Svavarsdóttir, the Minister of Infrastructure, is the sole candidate.

During her speech, Katrín thanked her colleagues for their support when she chose to leave the parliamentary group and step down as Prime Minister in April following her presidential campaign. She reflected on her long history with the party, dating back to her first national conference in 2002, describing it as the beginning of a fruitful partnership. Katrín mentioned her involvement in three governments and her pride in the accomplishments of her previous administration during challenging times post-economic crash.

Katrín acknowledged the party’s struggles in recent polls, recalling a significant loss in 2013 when the Left-Green Movement lost all seven of its seats in Parliament. Despite the current difficulties, she emphasized confidence in the party’s principles, asserting that they withstand the test of time.

In closing, she nostalgically recalled announcing to the then-party leader, Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, that she was expecting a child—a moment that garnered laughter from the audience. Katrín reiterated that politics should be focused on improving the lives of ordinary people.