Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition wins election

Centre-right opposition parties in Iceland were set for a return to power after the results of the parliamentary election in Iceland held on the 27 April 2013.

The Independence party polled 26.7% and the Progressive party 24.4%, putting them on track to win 38 of the 63 seats.

The ruling Social Democrats' share of the vote dropped to below 13%.

It was seen as a dramatic comeback for the parties widely blamed for Iceland's economic collapse in 2008.

EUObserver suggested that it placed a big question mark over Iceland's negotiations to join the European Union, as the parties likely to form the new government were said to be eurosceptic.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Icelandic parliamentary election, 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/icelandic-parliamentary-election-2013/

News of Iceland, 28.04.13: Final results of the general elections in Iceland - 2013 http://www.newsoficeland.com/home/politics/parliamentministries/item/1251-final-results-of-the-general-elections-in-iceland-2013

EUObserver, 28.04.13: Iceland election result puts EU membership in doubt http://euobserver.com/foreign/119969

ESO: Background information: Anti-EU parties poised to win power in Iceland http://www.europeansources.info/record/anti-eu-parties-poised-to-win-power-in-iceland/

ESO: Background Information: Iceland and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/iceland-and-the-european-union/

EurActiv, 29.04.13: Icelandic anti-EU parties begin talks to form government http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/iceland-anti-eu-parties-form-gov-news-519409

Deutsche Welle, 28.04.13: Iceland center-right takes commanding lead in elections http://www.dw.de/iceland-center-right-takes-commanding-lead-in-elections/a-16776893

Reuters, 28.04.13: Iceland set for coalition talks after government ousted http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/04/28/uk-iceland-election-idUKBRE93Q0EG20130428

France 24, 28.04.13: Iceland centre-right opposition claims election victory http://www.france24.com/en/20130428-iceland-centre-right-opposition-wins-parliamentary-elections

Blog: The Economist: Charlemagne, 30.04.13: Iceland's election. Right back http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2013/04/icelands-election

Blog: Iceland and the European Union, 11.05.13: EU membership rejected in general elections http://eunews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/eu-membership-rejected-in-general.html

EUObserver, 22.05.13: Iceland leader snubs EU membership http://euobserver.com/enlargement/120194

---