People's Party (Iceland)

The People's Party (Icelandic: Flokkur fólksins) is an Icelandic political party, founded by Inga Sæland.

People's Party

Flokkur Fólksins
FounderInga Sæland
Founded27 January 2016 (2016-01-27)
IdeologyChristian democracy[1]
Populism[2]
Disability rights[3]
Elderly interests[4]
Euroscepticism
Anti-immigration[5][6]
Political positionCentre-left (welfare issues)
Right-wing (all else)
Nordic affiliationCentre Group
Colours  Yellow
Seats in Parliament
2 / 63
Election symbol
F
Website
flokkurfolksins.is
The party's old logo (c. 2018)

Its main focus is to have better conditions for the poor and disabled.[2]

Icelandic Election Campaigns

It received 3.5% of the votes, and thus failed to pass the 5% threshold, required to enter the legislature.

Controversies and Expulsions

At the end of November 2018, the party expelled two of its parliamentarians, Karl Gauti Hjaltason and Ólafur Ísleifsson,[8] after a meeting of these with members of the Centre Party where Karl Gauti and Ólafur didn't object to derogatory remarks of Centre Party members against the People's Party's leader, Inga Sæland.[9]

Previously, the party ran into controversy when Inga made comments that were considered by the media as "xenophobic" and "anti-immigrant." Inga has made efforts to distance herself from those comments, even calling for increased care for refugees.[2] The New York Times has referred to the party as "railing against immigration, poverty and corruption".[10]

Electoral results

Parliament
Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2016 6,707 3.54
0 / 63
 0 8th No seats
2017 13,502 6.88
4 / 63
 4 7th Opposition

References
  1. "Samþykktir Flokks fólksins". People's Party. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  2. "Flokkur Fólksins: The Populist Uprising? - The Reykjavik Grapevine". The Reykjavik Grapevine. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. Siguroardottir, Ragnhildur (28 October 2017). "Iceland's Ruling Conservatives Emerge Weakened After Vote". Bloomberg Politics. Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  4. Jelena Ćirić (27 October 2017). "Icelandic Parliamentary Election 2017: Party Overview". Iceland Review. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  5. Gunnar Smári Egilsson (23 September 2020). "Sósíalistar eina aflið með orkuna í vinstrinu". Miðjan (in Icelandic). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  6. Iceland’s Government Falls After Letter Asking to Pardon Pedophile
  7. Flokks fólksins
  8. Kolbeinn Tumi Daðason, Sunna Kristín Hilmarsdóttir (November 30, 2018). "Karl Gauti og Ólafur reknir úr Flokki fólksins". visir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved November 30, 2018.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  9. Atli Ísleifsson (November 30, 2018). "Inga hefur ekkert heyrt í Ólafi eða Karli Gauta". visir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved November 30, 2018.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  10. Iceland’s Government Falls After Letter Asking to Pardon Pedophile
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