Icelandic Prime Minister Resigns

The Progress Party lost the parliamentary election, and the Icelandic Prime Minister announced his resignation.

Iceland's Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson announced his resignation on October 30 after his Progress Party lost early parliamentary elections on October 29.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital Reykjavik, Mr. Johannsson said that the decision to resign was in accordance with the Icelandic Constitution and that he would stay until a new government was formed.

Prime Minister of Iceland, Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson

According to the final vote count announced by national television station RUV last night, no party won a majority to form a new government on its own.

The Independence Party came in first with 29% of the vote, winning 21 of the 63 seats in parliament. The Progressive Party came in fourth with only 8 seats.

In a related development, on the same day, the Independence Party announced that it will soon promote the search for political partners to form a new coalition government.

Party leader Benediktsson revealed that he will form a ruling coalition of three parties. However, he did not reveal which party he will join.

The early parliamentary election in Iceland took place in the context of this Nordic economy not yet escaping recession due to political turmoil, after Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was forced to resign due to his involvement in the tax evasion ring in the "Panama Papers" leak.

Although the incumbent government of Prime Minister Johannsson survived a vote of no confidence, under pressure from protesters, Iceland was forced to hold early elections.

According to VOV