Besti flokkurinn (“The Best Party”), a party founded by comedian Jón Gnarr as a parody on the situation of Reykjavík City politics, is supported by a similar number of voters as the Independence Party, according to a new Capacent Gallup survey.
Reykjavík City Hall. Photo by Páll Kjartansson.
There are four weeks until the municipal elections in Iceland and support for the parties running for seats in the Reykjavík City Council has changed considerably, ruv.is reports.
The Social Democrats are supported by 28 percent of the electorate in Reykjavík, up by two percent from the last survey, which would earn the party five seats on the council, while support for the Independence Party dropped from 35 to 27 percent.
Mayor of Reykjavík Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir of the Independence Party attributes the loss of support to discussions surrounding the Special Investigative Report, which was published on April 12.
Besti flokkurinn now enjoys support from 24 percent of the electorate, which would earn the party four representatives on the council, the same number as the Independence Party.
Gnarr said this is a good start but that the party is aiming higher—a pure majority in Reykjavík is what they want to achieve.
Support for the Left-Greens in Reykjavík is now 16 percent, up by one percent. That suffices for two representatives on the council.
The Progressive Party increased its support from three to four percent, while Ólafur F. Magnússon, who is running independently, is only supported by one percent of the electorate. Neither of them would earn seats on the council.
The Special Investigative Report appears to be affecting the overall political view in Iceland. Countrywide, the Independence Party is losing support and the Left-Green Movement is gaining strength.
Click here to read more about Besti flokkurinn and here to read more about the SIC report.
