Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir commented in reaction to the outcome of a recent Capacent Gallup survey that she is not surprised by the collapse in support for her party, the Social Democrats.
Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir. Photo by Páll Kjartansson.
This development doesn’t concern her, she told ruv.is, she is more concerned by increased support for demonstrations as indicated in the survey.
Less than 18 percent of respondents said they would vote the Social Democrats if parliamentary elections were held today, which is the lowest support rate the party has received in nine years.
Sigurdardóttir, who is the party’s chair, said the difficulties in society are so severe that it could be expected that support for the party would drop below 20 percent.
Reasons for this lack of support include the new budget bill and the indebted households—people are expecting the government to do more, the PM stated.
The survey showed that 75 percent of respondents are in favor of demonstrations such as those that have taken place lately.
Sigurdardóttir said she is concerned about that outcome because it is important to stay positive, solidarity in society is necessary if it is to develop and negativity and protests are depressing.
Notably, 13 percent of respondents said they would hand in an empty ballot if parliamentary elections were held today—a higher rate than ever.
Support for the four political parties that have traditionally ruled Iceland since its independence in 1944 is only around 50 percent when the percentage of those who are undecided, are not planning to vote or hand in empty ballots, and of those who support The Movement is taken into account.
These parties are the Social Democratic Alliance (earlier Althýduflokkurinn), Left-Green Movement (earlier Althýdubandalagid), Independence Party and Progressive Party.
According to ruv.is, voters are sending the same message as in the municipal elections last spring that they are dissatisfied with all the conventional political parties, both the government and the opposition.
Click here to read more about the outcome of the survey and the reactions to it, here to read about recent demonstrations and here to read about the 2010 municipal elections.
