Icelandic parliamentary election, 2017

Icelandic parliamentary election, 2017

← 2016 28 October 2017
All 63 seats in the Althing 32 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Bjarni Benediktsson Katrín Jakobsdóttir Collective leadership Party Independence Left-Green Pirates Leader since 29 March 2009 24 February 2013 2017 Last election 21 seats, 29.0% 10 seats, 15.9% 10 seats, 14.5%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson Benedikt Jóhannesson Óttarr Proppé Party Progressive Reform Bright Future Leader since 2 October 2016 24 May 2016 31 January 2015 Last election 8 seats, 11.5% 7 seats, 10.5% 4 seats, 7.2%   Seventh party   Leader Logi Már Einarsson Party Social Democratic Leader since 31 October 2016 Last election 3 seats, 5.7%
Iceland election districts
Prime Minister before election Bjarni Benediktsson Independence Prime Minister-designate TBD

Bjarni Benediktsson
Independence

TBD

Parliamentary elections are due to be held in Iceland on 28 October 2017. On 15 September 2017, the three-party coalition government collapsed after the departure of Bright Future over a scandal involving Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson's father writing a letter recommending a convicted paedophile have his "honour restored". Benediktsson subsequently called for a snap election, which was officially scheduled for 28 October 2017 following the dissolution of the Althing.

A three-party coalition of the Independence Party, Reform Party and Bright Future had been put together after the 2016 election, which held a narrow majority of 1 seat in Parliament. The Prime Minister chosen was Bjarni Benediktsson, head of the Independence Party.

The Icelandic legal system has a mechanism whereby a convicted individual can have their "honour restored", that is have certain civil rights restored, from five years after serving their sentence if three letters of recommendation from persons of good character who know the individual are provided. Hjalti Sigurjón Hauksson was convicted in 2004 for multiple rapes of his stepdaughter from age five for twelve years. He served a jail term of five and a half years. Bjarni's father, Benedikt Sveinsson, was a friend of Hjalti Sigurjón's. Benedikt signed a letter of recommendation, which he said Hjalti Sigurjón brought to him already drafted. Bjarni was informed on this in July 2017 by the justice minister, Sigridur Andersen, also of the Independence Party, but Benedikt's support was not revealed by the government at first. Sigridur refused to say in public who had signed the letter at first, but was ordered to do so by a Parliamentary committee. Bjarni said it would have been illegal for him to reveal the information earlier.

Benedikt's involvement emerged in September. Bright Future left the coalition, accusing the Independence Party of a "serious breach of trust". Benedikt apologised for signing the letter. Sigridur said she is preparing a bill to reform the restored honour system.

Bjarni acknowledged the need for new elections, although the decision is made by the President, Gudni Johannesson. Other parties supported new elections, although Birgitta Jónsdóttir, parliamentary chair of the Pirates, initially suggested a 5-party coalition government of the Pirate Party, the Reform Party, the Left-Greens, the Social Democrats and Bright Future should be explored. There had been unsuccessful discussions for such a coalition after the last election.