The last few weeks have not been kind to the Independence Party. A wave of successive scandals and controversies has hit the party and it's chairman, Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson.
Read more: Left Greens dominate latest poll: Promise infrastructure investment, higher taxes on wealthy
The scandals and controversies have taken their toll on the party's support. The latest poll by polling firm MMR shows that that the Independence Party only enjoys the support of 19.9%. MMR has only once registered less support for the party. In January 20 the party enjoyed 19.5% support. During the post-war years the party regularly polled at 40% of the vote.
On September 15 the conservative led center-right coalition collapsed following pardon-gate, causing early elections to be called. This was the third successive coalition government of the Independence party which collapsed in controversy. Since then the party and it's chairman have stumbled from one controversy to another.
Read more: Report: Local newspaper issued gag order after covering shady business dealings of PM
The latest uproar, over the revelations in leaked documents from failed bank Glitnir, which cast light on questionable financial transactions by the Prime Minister and his immediate family in the lead-up to the 2008 banking crash, and the gag-order on Stundin newspaper which reported on the leak, has not helped the party re-capture the image of political stability and responsibility. Historically the Independence Party has portrayed itself as a state-bearing party, a beacon of stability and fiscal and social responsibility.
Read more: Report: Fallout from gag-order on coverage of PM's questionable financial transactions
Other results (last poll in parenthesis) shows the Left Greens slipping, while the other parties on the left gain support. The centrist parties have also gained ground, with the exception of Bright Future, which now needs a miracle to pass the 5% threshold needed to gain representation in Parliament. Support for the right-wing populist People's Party has also slipped.
Independence Party (D): 19.9%, (21.1%)
Left Green Movement (V): 19.1% (21.8%)
Pirate Party (P): 11,9% (10,5%).
Center Party (M): 11,0% (10,7%).
Progress Party (B): 8,0% (5,9%).
Restoration (C); 6,7% (3,6%).
People's Party (F): 5,3% (7,4%).
Bright Future (A): 1,6% (4,2%).
Others, combined 0,8%.
The last few weeks have not been kind to the Independence Party. A wave of successive scandals and controversies has hit the party and it's chairman, Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson.
Read more: Left Greens dominate latest poll: Promise infrastructure investment, higher taxes on wealthy
The scandals and controversies have taken their toll on the party's support. The latest poll by polling firm MMR shows that that the Independence Party only enjoys the support of 19.9%. MMR has only once registered less support for the party. In January 20 the party enjoyed 19.5% support. During the post-war years the party regularly polled at 40% of the vote.
On September 15 the conservative led center-right coalition collapsed following pardon-gate, causing early elections to be called. This was the third successive coalition government of the Independence party which collapsed in controversy. Since then the party and it's chairman have stumbled from one controversy to another.
Read more: Report: Local newspaper issued gag order after covering shady business dealings of PM
The latest uproar, over the revelations in leaked documents from failed bank Glitnir, which cast light on questionable financial transactions by the Prime Minister and his immediate family in the lead-up to the 2008 banking crash, and the gag-order on Stundin newspaper which reported on the leak, has not helped the party re-capture the image of political stability and responsibility. Historically the Independence Party has portrayed itself as a state-bearing party, a beacon of stability and fiscal and social responsibility.
Read more: Report: Fallout from gag-order on coverage of PM's questionable financial transactions
Other results (last poll in parenthesis) shows the Left Greens slipping, while the other parties on the left gain support. The centrist parties have also gained ground, with the exception of Bright Future, which now needs a miracle to pass the 5% threshold needed to gain representation in Parliament. Support for the right-wing populist People's Party has also slipped.
Independence Party (D): 19.9%, (21.1%)
Left Green Movement (V): 19.1% (21.8%)
Pirate Party (P): 11,9% (10,5%).
Center Party (M): 11,0% (10,7%).
Progress Party (B): 8,0% (5,9%).
Restoration (C); 6,7% (3,6%).
People's Party (F): 5,3% (7,4%).
Bright Future (A): 1,6% (4,2%).
Others, combined 0,8%.
