revival

Today’s blog looks at the newest party on the Icelandic political scene, Viðreisn (known as Revival in English). In this post, we’ll look at why the party came about earlier this year and how the party is now polling almost 10% only months after it formed.

HISTORY

In 2014, Benedikt Johannesson, an Icelandic publisher and businessman, left the Independence Party and formed into the new political network ‘Revival’. The group formed as a result of discontent with the party’s Eurosceptic stance on accession to the EU and its lack of support for free trade. In May this year, the group was officially registered as a party and is running in all constituencies of Iceland.

In a poll released today, ‘Revival’ are polling at 8.8%, which could grant them roughly six seats in the Althing.

IDEOLOGY

‘Revival’ describes itself as a liberal party, which supports Iceland joining the EU, reforming subsidies for farming, as well as supporting green policies and supporting a publically financed welfare state. They also believe that everyone should have equal access to healthcare, education and social services, and in abolishing capital controls and removing barriers to cooperation.

MANIFESTO

Health

  • Health service needs to be run based on the public’s vested interest and organised in a way that funds are spent as well as possible
  • Staff must be well educated and have access to the latest equipment and technology

Environment

  • Each generation should leave the environment in the same or a better state for the coming generation – natural resources belong to the entire nation

Constitution

  • Revision of the Constitution must be completed in cohesion in order to empower direct democracy for the public to have their say in important matters

Economy

  • Lower interest rates by pegging the Icelandic krona to another currency (they suggest the Euro)

Agriculture

  • Reform the national agricultural policy to give consumers greater freedom of choice

Foreign policy

  • Supports greater European and worldwide cooperation
  • Iceland should vote immediately on continuing talks for full membership of the European Union
  • Iceland should partake in international relief work, including housing refugees

Tomorrow, we take a look at the other ruling party, the Progressive Party, which has tumbled down the polls since the Panama Papers scandal…

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