Chairs of all six political parties that earned seats in Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, after Saturday’s election met with President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson yesterday. He is expected to announce today—or at the latest tomorrow—whom he recommends to lead coalition talks.
Bessastaðir, the presidential residence. Páll Kjartansson/Iceland Review.
Chair of the Independence Party Bjarni Benediktsson told Morgunblaðið that he believed the Independence Party and the Progressive Party should forge a two-party coalition.
Chair of the Progressive Party Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson didn’t make any such statements, only saying that the ball is in the president’s court.
These parties, both of which earned 19 seats in parliament, although the Independence Party received a slightly higher percentage of votes, are the only two that can forge a two-party coalition, ruv.is reports.
Together they would have 38 MPs out of 63 MPs in parliament or a majority by six.
Either party could also forge a three-party coalition with the Social Democratic Alliance and Left Green Movement, which would give the government 35 MPs or a majority by four.
A three-party coalition consisting of either the Independence or Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Alliance and Bright Future is also possible. With such a combination, the government would have 34 MPs or a majority by three.
The weakest possible three-party solution would be either of the two largest parties, Bright Future and the Left-Greens, which would only have 32 MPs and the smallest possible majority.
Related:
30.04.2013 | Youngest Ever Icelandic Parliamentarian Elected
29.04.2013 | Iceland’s Election in the International Spotlight
29.04.2013 | Historic Election in Iceland
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