The Social-Democratic Alliance, Progressive Party, Pirate Party, and Reform Party of the City of Reykjavík held a press conference yesterday where they announced that negotiations to form a majority coalition on the city council had been successful. Incumbent Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson will remain in the position until the end of next year, with Progressive Party Councillor Einar Þorsteinnson taking over as mayor at the beginning of 2024.
Together, the four parties hold a majority of 13 seats out of the total 23. The Social-Democratic Alliance has five of the seats, followed by the Progressive Party with four, the Pirate Party with three, and the Reform Party with one seat. The new City Council’s first official meeting will be at 2:00 PM today.
Einar opened yesterday’s press conference by expressing satisfaction with the coalition agreement, stating that it fully meets the Progressive Party’s demands for changes in the coming term. Pirate Party councillor Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir stated that her party is pleased with the emphasis the agreement places on climate issues, democracy, transparency, and a just society, all priorities of the Pirate Party. Þórdís Lóa Þórhallsdóttir of the Reform Party expressed satisfaction that the majority plans to focus on labour and innovation in the coming term.
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Incumbent mayor and Social-Democratic Alliance councillor Dagur B. Eggertsson stated he was pleased with the new majority and that the city will continue to develop toward being more environmentally sustainable.
The coalition agreement includes housing construction projects on plots in Úlfarsárdalur, Kjalarnes, Hlíðarendi, Gufunes, and Ártúnshöfði, as well as a competition for the development of Keldnaland and Keldnaholt.
The new term will bring higher subsidies for children’s activities as well as free swimming pool access and public bus trips for primary school children. The majority also promised to bring back the night bus service as well as run a pilot project to have one pool in the city open until midnight.
