Iceland’s Left-Green Party ends coalition talks / Iceland’s Pirate Party asked to try to form a government

By the end of November 2016, one month after its General Election, Iceland still did not have a new Government in place. Two attempts had been made to form a coalition by the leaders of the Independence Party and the Left-Green Movement.

However, Icelandic President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson rejected the suggestion on the 25 November 2016 that Iceland was facing a crisis of government. He urged leaders from all seven parties to now hold discussions.

The President invited the leader of the anti-establishment Pirate Party, Birgitta Jónsdóttir, on the 2 December 2016 to form a government, after further discussions with all parties. The Pirates only had ten MPs in the new parliament and would have to secure a coalition of at least 32 to be able to create a majority government.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The result: Iceland elections leave ruling centre-right party in driving seat http://www.europeansources.info/record/iceland-elections-leave-ruling-centre-right-party-in-driving-seat/

ESO: Background information: Icelandic parliamentary election, 29 October 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/icelandic-parliamentary-election-29-october-2016/

Iceland Monitor, 25.11.16: President will not give a third coalition mandate http://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2016/11/25/president_will_not_give_a_third_coalition_mandate/

Deutsche Welle, 25.11.16: Talks to form Iceland government collapse a second time http://dw.com/p/2THUS

The Guardian, 24.11.16: Iceland in election stalemate as Left Greens coalition bid fails https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/24/iceland-in-election-stalemate-as-left-greens-coalition-bid-fails

The Guardian, 02.12.16: Iceland's Pirate party invited to form government https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/02/iceland-pirate-party-invited-form-government-coalition

BBC News, 02.12.16: Iceland election: Pirate Party asked to try to form government http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38187599

Iceland Monitor, 02.12.16: Pirates given mandate to form new Iceland government http://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2016/12/02/pirates_given_mandate_to_form_new_iceland_governmen/

Deutsche Welle, 02.12.16: Iceland's Pirate Party asked to try to form a government http://dw.com/p/2TfVG

EurActiv, 02.01.17: Iceland tempted once more by EU membership bait http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/iceland-tempted-once-more-by-eu-membership-bait/

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