An IMG Gallup poll released this week show that voters in Reykjavík favor former talk show host Gísli Marteinn Baldursson to other Independence Party candidates in the next city council elections. An editorial in today’s Morgunbladid praises the current leader Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjálmsson.
IMG Gallup conducted the poll for an undisclosed group linked to the Independence Party, asking who they thought was most likely to lead the Party in the next Reykjavík city council elections. A released statement from the group signed by Einar Örn Ólafsson, known to be a supporter of candidate Gísli Marteinn, states that the group believes the Independence Party should run the city instead of the R- Alliance Party.
The respondents were asked to chose an individual, from a list of five candidates, that they thought was most likely to lead the Independence Party to victory in the next Reykjavík city council elections.
The results were as follows:
Gísli Marteinn Baldursson 36,9%
Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjálmsson 29,7%
Gudlaugur Th. Thórdarson 13,4%
Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir 12,7%
Júlíus Vífill Ingvarsson 7,2%.
48.6% of respondents answered the question, 29.1% refused to choose from the candidates listed and 22.3% refused to respond.
The respondents were also asked to choose between, Gísli Marteinn Baldursson or Vilhjálmur Þ. Vilhjálmsson, the two highest scoring candidates.
The results were as follows:
Gísli Marteinn Baldursson 53.6%
Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjálmsson 46.4%.
64.7% of respondents answered the question, 14.8% refused to choose from the candidates listed and 20.5% refused to respond.
According to Morgunbladid, female respondents preferred Gísli Marteinn (56%) to Vilhjálmur (44%) while the 49% of male respondents preferred Vilhjálmur and 51% chose Gísli Marteinn.
Gísli Marteinn, is known for his big smile and “feel good” interviews on Iceland’s once highest rated television show “Saturday Night with Gísli Marteinn”. Gísli Marteinn recently left the show to focus on his political aspirations.
Results are based a survey with 1102 adults living in Reykjavík, aged 18-75, conducted June 23 through July 26. 629 respondents were willing to answer the questions.
An editorial, Staksteinar, in the Morgunbladid today points out that, under the leadership of Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjálmsson, the Independence Party is performing better than it has in years. A poll taken last week shows 48.2% support for the Independence Party for the Reykjavík City Council while 47% support the currently ruling R-Alliance Party. The paper points out that this is a turn-around from polls last year when support for the Independence Party measured in at 40% while the R-Alliance Party had over 50% support. Morgunbladid states that Vilhjálmur “has immense experience in city council matters, is a successful politician, and that Independence Party voters in Reykjavík should think twice before rocking the boat”.
