Following the collapse of the majority right-wing coalition government on Friday all parties agree that early elections are the only viable solution. The current government will remain in power until the elections as a placeholder. Bjarni Benediktsson, the Prime Minister, has said that he wants the government and parliament to ensure that elections can take place at the earliest opportunity. This would mean elections would take place on October 28.
According to Icelandic law it the power to dissolve parliament and set the date for new elections resides with the President of Iceland. New elections must be held within 45 days from the dissolving of parliament. The President makes these decisions with parliamentary leaders.
Second elections in less than a year
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that Bjarni held talks with other parliamentary leaders over the weekend. Bjarni had initially said he preferred November 4 as the date for early elections, but RÚV reports that other political leaders in parliament prefer elections are held as soon as possible. The earliest possible date for elections is October 28.
If October 28th will be picked it would be the second parliamentary elections in less than a year. The last elections were held on October 29 2016. The 2016 elections were held one year ahead of schedule, as the fallout from the Panama Papers had forced the government of disgraced former Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson to resign. Bjarni Benediktsson was the Minister of Finance in Sigmundur Davíð's government.
Read more: Interview with disgraced former PM over Panama Papers nominated for an Emmy award
The cloud of the Panama Papers has followed Bjarni's government since it was formed in January.
Read more: Cloud of Panama Papers: Prime Minister refuses to discuss tax-haven report with Parliament
Bjarni Benediktsson and the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson will meet at the President's residence at 11 today, Monday September 18. The two men are expected to discuss the date for the dissolving of parliament and new elections at their meeting.
Parliament can continue to convene until elections, passing bills which enjoy majority support.
Following the collapse of the majority right-wing coalition government on Friday all parties agree that early elections are the only viable solution. The current government will remain in power until the elections as a placeholder. Bjarni Benediktsson, the Prime Minister, has said that he wants the government and parliament to ensure that elections can take place at the earliest opportunity. This would mean elections would take place on October 28.
According to Icelandic law it the power to dissolve parliament and set the date for new elections resides with the President of Iceland. New elections must be held within 45 days from the dissolving of parliament. The President makes these decisions with parliamentary leaders.
Second elections in less than a year
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that Bjarni held talks with other parliamentary leaders over the weekend. Bjarni had initially said he preferred November 4 as the date for early elections, but RÚV reports that other political leaders in parliament prefer elections are held as soon as possible. The earliest possible date for elections is October 28.
If October 28th will be picked it would be the second parliamentary elections in less than a year. The last elections were held on October 29 2016. The 2016 elections were held one year ahead of schedule, as the fallout from the Panama Papers had forced the government of disgraced former Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson to resign. Bjarni Benediktsson was the Minister of Finance in Sigmundur Davíð's government.
Read more: Interview with disgraced former PM over Panama Papers nominated for an Emmy award
The cloud of the Panama Papers has followed Bjarni's government since it was formed in January.
Read more: Cloud of Panama Papers: Prime Minister refuses to discuss tax-haven report with Parliament
Bjarni Benediktsson and the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson will meet at the President's residence at 11 today, Monday September 18. The two men are expected to discuss the date for the dissolving of parliament and new elections at their meeting.
Parliament can continue to convene until elections, passing bills which enjoy majority support.
