Independence Party (Iceland)

The Independence Party (Icelandic Sjálfstæðisflokkur ) is the largest by number of members Islands Party and is pursuing a liberal-conservative politics. In 2011 she joined the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists at ( AECR ).

History

The party was founded in 1929. Between 1944 and 2009 she was with 27 to 40% of votes, the most powerful force in the country, but neither was ever in government nor ever capable of a one-party government. The long-serving Prime Minister and party leader Davíð Oddsson was replaced in 2006 by Geir Hilmar Haarde, who handed over his position in 2009 to Bjarni Benediktsson.

In elections in May 2007, the party won 36.6 percent of votes ( 2.9 percent) and reached 25 seats ( 3). They were then on the existing coalition with the Progressive Party in favor of a grand coalition with the Alliance.

In the years of government participation Iceland could always have an economic growth until 2007. A statistic of the Wall Street Journal, in which the economic freedom of countries is estimated to Iceland could work your way up to 2006 in 5th place. Following the protests due to the financial crisis, the government stepped back under Prime Minister Geir Haarde. When then the next election in April 2009, the party suffered heavy losses and slipped to second place. It was since then in opposition. In the election in 2013 the Independence Party was the strongest force.

The party is supported by the major daily newspaper of Iceland, Morgunblaðið.

Political positions

The party is regarded as a strong supporter of NATO, however, is an EU accession hostile towards. In business matters and it advocates free market economy. As the economist Milton Friedman visited 1984 Iceland, he was impressed by the intellectual circles ( among others also Davíð Oddsson ) in the Independence Party, which has since Privatization of state enterprises, low taxes, less government spending, liberalization of currency transfers and capital market and the deletion all subsidies greatly exposes.

The party changed its position end of March 2009 to the effect that first a referendum on the opening of accession talks, on completion of another referendum should be held on acceptance of the terms offered by the EU.

Election results

At meetings held in April 2009 elections the party lost nearly 13 percent of the vote and was no longer the strongest force in the Althing. However, in the elections held in April 2013 she could make up for the losses in part and was again strongest force in parliament.