| Left-Green Movement Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð |
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|---|---|
| Chairman | Steingrímur J. Sigfússon |
| Vice chairperson | Katrín Jakobsdóttir |
| Founded | 6 February 1999 |
| Headquarters | Suðurgata 3 101 Reykjavík |
| Ideology | Eco-socialism[1] Feminism[2] Socialism Democratic Socialism Secularism Euroscepticism (minorty) |
| Political position | Fiscal: Left-wing Social: Left-wing |
| International affiliation | None |
| European affiliation | Nordic Green Left Alliance |
| Official colours | Red, Green |
| Seats in the Althing |
15 / 63
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| Website | |
| http://www.vg.is/ | |
| Politics of Iceland Political parties Elections |
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Core topics
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The Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð) is a left-wing political party in Iceland.
It was founded in 1999 by a few members of Alþingi who did not approve of the planned merger of the left parties in Iceland that resulted in the founding of the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin). The Left-Green Movement focuses on democratic socialist values, feminism and environmentalism, as well as increased democracy and direct involvement of the people in the administration of the country. The party opposes Iceland's involvement in NATO and also the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. The party rejects membership of the European Union and supports the Palestinian cause in the Middle East. It supports the mutual adaptation and integration of immigrants into Icelandic society as necessary.[3]
The Left-Green Movement is a member of the Nordic Green Left Alliance.[4]
The Left-Green Movement has about 3,000 members. The party chairman is Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, MP. The vice chairman is Katrín Jakobsdóttir, MP. The secretary-general of the party is Auður Lilja.
In the 1999 parliamentary elections the Left-Green Movement took 9.1% of the vote and six seats in the Alþingi. It had five members in the 63-seat Icelandic parliament after the 2003 elections where it polled 8.8% of the vote. After the 2007 elections the party had 9 seats in parliament, having received 14.3% of the vote.
In 2009 the Left-Green Movement joined Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) as the minor partner in a coalition government after the center-right government of the Alliance and the conservative Independence Party collapsed.[5] In the subsequent elections, it rose from 9 seats to 14, becoming Iceland's third-largest party (close behind Independence) with 21,7% of the vote, which is the second largest outcome of a left socialist party in Iceland, after the former communist People's Alliance in 1978 when it got 22.9% of the vote. The party, gained one seat in addition, when a non-party parliamentarian joined the party.[6] Currently, the party has 15 seats in the parliament.
Contents |
| Election | Number of votes for Left-Green | Share of votes | Seats | Outcome of election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 15,115 | 9.1% | 6 | Independence Victory |
| 2003 | 16,129 | 8.8% | 5 | Independence Victory |
| 2007 | 26,136 | 14.3% | 9 | Independence Victory |
| 2009 | 40,580 | 21.7% | 14 | Alliance Victory |
| Parliamentarian | Since | Title | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steingrímur J. Sigfússon | 23 April 1983 | Chairman and Minister of Finance, Agriculture and Fisheries. | North East Constituency | |
| Katrín Jakobsdóttir | 12 May 2007 | Vice-Chairman and Minister of Education | Reykjavík North Constituency | |
| Ögmundur Jónasson | 8 April 1995 | Minister of the Interior | South West Constituency | |
| Jón Bjarnason | 8 May 1999 | Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. | North West Constituency | |
| Álfheiður Ingadóttir | 12 May 2007 | Parliamentarian | Reykjavík South Constituency | |
| Árni Þór Sigurðsson | 12 May 2007 | Parliamentarian | Reykjavík North Constituency | |
| Atli Gíslason | 12 May 2007 | Parliamentarian | South Constituency | |
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