Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson declared the end of the governing coalition and called for new elections to be held on November 30. If it feels like this political merry-go-round is spinning a little too fast, that’s because it is.
According to Icelandic public broadcaster RUV, Benediktsson pointed to irreconcilable differences between the coalition parties over two hot-button issues: asylum seekers and energy efficiency.
Iceland, a country with fewer than 400,000 people, is splitting hairs over how to handle asylum seekers. Apparently, that’s what broke the camel’s back in this fragile alliance, made up of the right-wing Independence Party, the center-right Progressive Party, and the Left Greens.
One could argue that this coalition was a ticking time bomb from the start – right-wing and left-wing ideologies coexisting in a so-called “partnership”? It’s a wonder they made it this far.
Benediktsson, head of the pro-business Independence Party, has only been in office since April, when he replaced Katrin Jakobsdottir. Jakobsdottir, in what seems to be a pattern of political chaos, decided to resign and run for president. Benediktsson, seizing the moment, took the top job, but now finds himself in charge of a collapsing government. The PM has scheduled a meeting with Iceland’s President, Halla Tomasdottir, to discuss his plan to dissolve parliament.
Let’s not forget, elections must be held within 45 days of a parliament’s dissolution, which means Icelandic voters are in for yet another round of electoral circus before the year ends. But can elections really fix what’s broken? Iceland’s political sector has been hit hard by economic woes, high inflation, rising interest rates, and, to top it all off, volcanic eruptions
Thousands of Icelanders have been forced from their homes due to the eruptions, and this natural disaster has only highlighted the coalition’s inability to manage multiple crises at once. Instead of uniting to address the economic strains and the pressing issue of displacement, the coalition parties have been bickering about asylum policies and environmental standards.
And with inflation, interest rates, volcanic eruptions, and asylum policies all on the table, the upcoming elections are sure to be more than just your average political sideshow.
