Left-Green Movement criticized for rejecting interim government position in Iceland

A political professor has described it as strange and incredulous for the Left-Green Movement not to take a seat in the interim government for six weeks after seven years of collaboration with the same parties. On April 7, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir requested to resign along with her cabinet after six and a half years in office. Although the President of Iceland accepted her resignation request, he asked her to stay on.

On April 9, a new coalition was formed, with Bjarni Benediktsson as Prime Minister, continuing the government with the Left-Green Movement retaining oversight of the social and labor market portfolio. Eiríkur Bergmann, the professor, noted that once the leader of the Independence Party took the prime minister’s seat, the alliance with the Left-Greens began to unravel, with the party facing significant challenges in popularity and the need to select a new leader.

The Left-Green Movement held a pivotal national congress ten days ago in Reykjavik, where major resolutions indicated the coalition was nearing its end, directing efforts toward elections in the upcoming spring. Tensions arose prior to that with the postponement of Yazans Tamimi’s departure, leaving many uncertain about the reasons behind the internal turmoil or the threat of government dissolution.

Bjarni announced the end of the partnership the day after an Independence Party meeting. Bergmann criticized the decision of the Left-Green Movement not to participate in the interim government, a choice echoed by several others, including former political leader Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, who expressed disbelief at their refusal to engage simply because the Independence Party leader remained in power.