Icelandic parliament prioritizes budget proposal ahead of upcoming elections

The 2024 parliamentary elections in Iceland are approaching, with the budget proposal taking priority despite mixed opinions. Today, Speaker of Parliament Birgir Ármannsson held a meeting with party leaders, and they agreed on the necessity of passing the budget before the elections. They plan to continue discussions, and a parliamentary session is scheduled for tomorrow.

Birgir emphasized the importance of finalizing the budget in November to eliminate uncertainties regarding the state’s financial resources for the upcoming year, noting that the budget has already been under consideration for five weeks. He stated, “There shouldn’t be any insurmountable obstacles to completing it in the coming weeks, but achieving this requires a decent consensus.”

Another meeting is set for tomorrow, and Birgir anticipates consulting with the parliamentary committee to review the legislative schedule. To facilitate their campaign activities in the run-up to the elections, parliamentary sessions and committee work will be kept to a minimum.

Hanna Katrín Friðriksson of the Reform Party stressed the need for a collective understanding on how to handle the budget, arguing that it should be passed in its current form without significant changes. She mentioned that the new government next year could make adjustments through supplementary budget bills or other legislative amendments.

Pirate Party leader Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir criticized the approach taken by Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson, indicating that unnecessary challenges have been created by prematurely calling for elections without prior discussions on fundamental issues.

Hildur Sverrisdóttir from the Independence Party expressed optimism about finalizing the budget by mid-November, provided there is unity among the parties involved, highlighting the necessity of focusing on essential matters affecting households and the economy.