Iceland PM calls new election as coalition government collapses

Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson has called for a new election in November and dissolves the three-party coalition government.

In a press conference on Sunday, Benediktsson said problems had mounted within the left-right coalition on issues related to foreign policy, asylum seekers, and energy, public broadcaster RUV reported.

The coalition comprised the right-wing Independence Party, which Benediktsson leads, the Left-Green Movement and the centre-right Progressive Party.

The prime minister said the issues were “less discussed in the last election]in 2021] than need to be discussed now”, emphasising “how different the]Left-Green] Movement’s vision for the future is, compared to what I want to stand for”.

Benediktsson told the Visir news outlet that it would be “best if the government]had] a common vision”.

“It’s disappointing when projects run aground or circumstances change”, he added.

According to RUV, the prime minister and Icelandic President Halla Tomasdottir will meet on Monday to discuss the need for parliamentary elections and the government’s dissolution.

The prime minister, who has already said he has strong backing from his party to stand in the November elections, is one of Iceland’s most experienced politicians. Prior to that, he was the foreign minister and the finance minister.

After Katrin Jakobsdottir left the Left-Green Movement’s run for president, which she lost, Benediktsson assumed the position in April.

The coalition received only one-fourth of the vote, or 24.6 percent, which is the lowest result for an Icelandic government in 30 years, according to a Gallup poll conducted on October 1.