Góðan dag!
As I write this we are five days away from presidential elections here in Iceland.
The latest poll shows that out of twelve candidates there, the three women in the lead are statistically even: Katrín Jakobsdóttir (who stepped down as prime minister to run for president), Halla Hrund Logadóttir (Iceland’s Director of Energy Affairs, on leave) and Halla Tómasdóttir (entrepreneur and activist).
Before I go further I should iterate that the office of president is separate from the day-to-day running of the country. The president is esentially a figurehead who signs off on laws, and chooses who gets to form a government following an election. This is usually the party that gets the greatest support at the polls, but not always. Apart from that, the president’s job description is pretty open, and each individual can shape the office in accordance with his or her own vision and emphases.
This current presidential campaign is unlike any other I have witnessed. It has created so much heat and polarization in our tiny society that even longtime friends and neighbours have become adversaries over their support for one candidate over another.
Specifically, over their support, or not, of Katrín Jakobsdóttir, who relinquished her seat as prime minister to enter the presidential race.
It is impossible to convey in a few words how her candidacy has divided the nation. Suffice it to say that, to many people, Katrín is a politician who turned her back on her voters when she entered into a coalition with the Independence Party—the party that, first and foremost, serves the interests of the moneyed elite. The IP has a stronghold on this country’s national resources and assets, and works overtly and covertly to usurp those resources for their own gain and those of their cronies. With considerable success, I should add.
The IP is a party that, even when you vote for someone else, they always seem to win. Eight years ago many of us voted strategically for the Left-Greens, since they seemed like the party most likely to be able to block the IP’s claim to power. (For the record, the IP has been in power continuously since the founding of the Republic of Iceland in 1944, with the exception of one four-year term following the economic collapse.) When the LGs then entered into a coalition with the very party we had hoped to keep out, we voters felt immensely betrayed.
Over the past eight years, the Left-Greens have systematically betrayed not only their voters, but also their own principles and ideals. They are now “Left-Green” in name only, and it is an empty label.
Given that Katrín Jakobsdóttir was not able to hold her own against the bulldozing of the IP and those they serve while holding the highest office in government, it stands to reason that her bid for the presidency causes some concern. Especially since the establishment is highly vocal and extremely forceful in their support of her. That includes certain media, and many high-profile individuals with varying degrees of power.
One of those concerns is in regards to a certain bill that KJ’s party is responsible for creating, that is now pending in parliament. It concerns the handing over of a large chunk of Iceland’s natural resources to foreign concerns—not for ten years, not twenty years, but forever. A bill that would seriously undermine Iceland’s sovereignty.
Predictably, it is highly controversial.
One of the roles of the president is to listen to the nation and to be a safety valve when needed. Specifically, the president can refuse to sign bills into law, and to refer controversial bills, particularly those that affect the sovereignty of the nation, to a national referendum.
It should come as no surprise that the establishment, those who treat the nation’s resources as their own, would benefit greatly from having one of their own in the office of president. A safety valve for their benefit, rather than that of the common people.
This begs the question: if Katrín Jakobsdóttir is elected president, would she sign off on a highly controversial bill that her party created under her leadership?
This is but one aspect of many in the democratic process that is now suddenly called into question.
What is especially alarming is how many people see nothing, absolutely nothing, wrong with this situation. Who think Katrín would make a fantastic president, what with her experience and insight into government and so forth.
Never mind that she stood silently by while the most corrupt politician in Iceland Bjarni Benediktsson
sold a chunk of the nation’s assets to his father in the dead of night
stepped down from one ministry after he was called out for corruption and right into another (his version of “taking responsibility”)
appointed his closest associates to the most coveted ambassadorial positions
abstained from voting for a ceasefire in Gaza at the UN without consulting anybody
(I could go on)
Not to mention that, in stepping down as prime minister, she paved the way for Bjarni Benediktsson to take over her office.
That’s right.
Iceland’s most corrupt politician is now the PM.
Want more? If Katrín is elected president and has to leave the country for some reason that is not official business, Bjarni Ben will also become president while she is away.
So is all this likely to happen?
Why yes. Yes it is.
There are twelve candidates in the running. I know which one I would want to see as president, but I will not vote for that candidate. I will vote strategically for the person who seems most likely to keep KJ out of power. (Yes I know, it worked so well the last time.)
Because frankly, to me this whole business and its implications undermines our very democracy and that scares the bejeezus out of me.
The only problem being that it’s hard to vote strategically when there are two other candidates that are so close together in the polls. Because that will split the vote, and we know how that will probably end.
It’s disheartening and there are people saying that they will leave the country if she wins. Yes, it is that demoralizing for the nation.
(And before someone jumps in her with a comment about how bad it is in their country: yes I know Katrín Jakobsdóttir is no Donald Trump and that you may have far worse things to contend with wherever you live, but please don’t minimize our experience. Thanks.)
For me, this trend and everything about it is highly redolent of a piece I wrote a few months back about Icelanders and betrayal blindness … it’s here, if you missed it the first time:
That’s it for now. Watch this space.
Huge thanks to paid subscribers to this newsletter who sponsor open posts like this one. 🫶
All your support means the world to me, since it allows me to keep writing. Here are some ways you can help.
📩 share this post
🙋♀️ subscribe to this newsletter
💖 become a paid subscriber
📚 buy one of my books
✍️ write a review of one of my books on Amazon or Goodreads
📣 tell someone about my work
☕ buy me a coffee by clicking here
Thank you! 🙏
This post may contain affiliate links
I really enjoyed this commentary on the Presidential race. As an outsider living here for the summer, and after reading this post, I was happy to see Halla won. It will be interesting watching her evolution into the office of President.
Disheartening to read of so many countries with important elections and significant chances that they won't end well.... A trivial note, but thank you for answering my (internal) question of whether Icelanders, like folks in the U.S. who say they'll go to Canada, say they will move if things go badly.