Progressive Party (Iceland): Difference between revisions

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Throughout Iceland's history as a self-governing and independent nation, the Progressive Party has most often been the second largest political party in the country. It has often joined government coalitions with either the [[Independence Party (Iceland)|Independence Party]] on the right, or with left-wing parties.
Throughout Iceland's history as a self-governing and independent nation, the Progressive Party has most often been the second largest political party in the country. It has often joined government coalitions with either the [[Independence Party (Iceland)|Independence Party]] on the right, or with left-wing parties.


In the [[Icelandic parliamentary election, 2007|2007 elections]], the party dropped five seats, down from twelve. The ruling coalition now only holds a one-seat majority in the Althing.
In the [[Icelandic parliamentary election, 2007|2007 elections]], the party dropped five seats, down from twelve. The ruling coalition now only holds a one-seat majority in the Althing, but the Independence Party has in the meanwhile started coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party.


6 of its 12 chairmen have been prime ministers of Iceland:
6 of its 12 chairmen have been prime ministers of Iceland:

Revision as of 19:04, 20 May 2007

Progressive Party
LeaderJón Sigurðsson
Founded1916
HeadquartersHverfisgata 33
101 Reykjavík
IdeologyLiberalism, Agrarianism
International affiliationLiberal International
Website
http://www.framsokn.is

The Progressive Party (Icelandic: Framsóknarflokkurinn) is an agrarian, liberal and centrist party in Iceland. The party is a member of the Liberal International. The chairman of the party is Jón Sigurðsson, minister of Industry and Commerce. He was elected chairman of the party at the party's convention on August 19, 2006 in a leadership election between him and Siv Friðleifsdóttir, minister for Health and Social Security. Jón's predecessor as party leader was Halldór Ásgrímsson, chairman 1994-2006. Halldór was Prime Minister of Iceland 2004-2006.

The party has been in a government coalition with the conservative Independence Party since 1995. From 1995 to 2004, it participated in the coalition as the junior partner under the premiership of Independence Party leader Davíð Oddsson, but the two parties agreed after the 2003 legislative elections that Halldór would become Prime Minister in September 2004. He took office on September 15, but later announced his intention to resign on June 5, 2006. The coalition remained allied with the Independence Party chairman, Geir H. Haarde, as Prime Minister. The Progressive Party leader Jón Sigurðsson is minister of Industry and Commerce.

Though the Progressive Party was originally founded as an agrarian party and still finds most of its support from farmers and fishermen, it has gradually adopted the position of a liberal party in the political spectrum. It was founded in 1916 as a merger of two agrarian parties, the Farmers' Party (Bændaflokkur) and the Independent Farmers (Óháðir bændur).

Throughout Iceland's history as a self-governing and independent nation, the Progressive Party has most often been the second largest political party in the country. It has often joined government coalitions with either the Independence Party on the right, or with left-wing parties.

In the 2007 elections, the party dropped five seats, down from twelve. The ruling coalition now only holds a one-seat majority in the Althing, but the Independence Party has in the meanwhile started coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party.

6 of its 12 chairmen have been prime ministers of Iceland:

In addition to those Steingrímur Steinþórsson headed a government from 1950 to 1953.

See also

External links