RÚV reported yesterday that the likelihood of a three-party center-right coalition of the Independence Party, the Reform Party and Bright Future had increased anew. The three party leaders spoke on Saturday and talks reportedly continued yesterday.
An earlier attempt to form a government between the three parties, led by Independence Party Leader Bjarni Benediktsson, failed following the October 29 parliamentary election. That attempt was followed by Left-Green Movement Leader Katrín Jakobsdóttir’s fruitless negotiations aimed at forming a five-party center-left coalition.
When she returned the mandate to form a government on Friday, President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson decided not to give any party leader the mandate, but urged all party leaders to make every effort to form a government.
After informal negotiations between the three parties over the weekend, it is thought that party leaders are showing more flexibility than before, faced with more time pressure.
Jóna Sólveig Elínardóttir, vice chair of the Reform Party, told Vísir that negotiations between the three parties are not far enough along to say that a government is being formed.
She described the talks as informal discussions about the possibilities at hand.
Kjarninn reported today that a new government is being born, made up of the Independence Party, the Reform Party and Bright Future, with the Independence Party at the helm.
Bjarni’s first attempt to form such a coalition stranded on disagreements regarding fisheries policy and a lack of compromise regarding policy toward the European Union. Now, Kjarninn claims, a compromise has been reached in the areas of fisheries and agriculture.
