Progressive Party (Iceland)

The Progressive Party ( Isl Framsóknarflokkurinn ) is a liberal party in Iceland.

Political positions

The party represents mainly the interests of farmers and fishermen. It was founded in 1916 by the merger of the Peasant Party ( Bændaflokkur ) and the Independent Farmers ( Óháðir bændur ).

Some of the members speaks out against NATO membership. Since 17 January 2009, the Party supports EU accession with reservations in the agricultural and fishing rights.

Chairman

6 of the 12 former Chairman of the party were the Prime Minister of the country:

  • Tryggvi Þórhallsson Prime Minister 1927-1932; Party Chairman 1928-1932
  • Ásgeir Ásgeirsson Prime Minister 1932-1934; Party Chairman 1932-1933
  • Hermann Jónasson Prime Minister 1934-1942 and 1956-1958; Party Chairman 1944-1962
  • Ólafur Jóhannesson Prime Minister 1971-1974 and 1978-1979; Party Chairman 1968-1979
  • Steingrímur Hemm Prime Minister 1983-1987 and 1988-1991; Party Chairman 1979-1994
  • Halldór Ásgrímsson Prime Minister 2004-2006; Party Chairman 1994 - July 2006
  • Jón Sigurðsson party chairman from 2006 to 2007
  • Guðni Ágústsson party chairman from 2007 to 2008
  • Valgerdur Sverrisdóttir party chairman from 2008 to 2009

The current chairman since 2009 is Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson.

Election results

The party took in the parliamentary elections until the 1990s, usually in second place. Accordingly, many times they had been represented in the government, either in coalition with the Independence Party or one of the left-wing parties. However, they reported a continuous voter loss between 1995 and 2007.

In the Icelandic parliamentary election, 2007, the party won only 11.7 percent of the vote. This trend could be reversed in the 2009 elections.

Agricultural policy Icelandic parliamentary election, 2003 Social Democratic Alliance
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