flokkarnir

Flokkarnir, literally “the parties” in Icelandic, are political organizations that participate in elections, organize around shared ideologies, and seek to influence public policy. They operate at national and local levels and form the core structure through which Icelandic citizens engage in representative politics.

Organization and activities

Parties maintain internal structures with leadership, committees, and regular congresses to set platforms and nominate candidates. Membership is voluntary and governed by party rules. They conduct campaigns, publish manifestos, and present lists of candidates for elections. In the parliamentary system, voters can cast a vote for a party or for individual candidates on a party list. Iceland uses open-list proportional representation, allowing voters to influence the ranking of candidates on a list.

Electoral system and government formation

Seat distribution among flokkarnir is proportional to votes, with the number of seats allocated according to vote share within multi-member constituencies. The parliament, Alþingi, has 63 seats. No formal national threshold exists, but results are shaped by district-level outcomes. Because no single party typically wins an outright majority, governments are usually formed through coalitions among two or more flokkarnir, negotiated in advance or after elections through coalition agreements. Party discipline and internal policy processes guide how members vote on legislation and implement agreed platforms.

History and landscape

The Icelandic party system took shape in the 20th century, with long-standing parties such as the Independence Party and the Progressive Party playing central roles alongside social-democratic and agrarian movements. Since the late 20th century, a multiparty landscape has featured broader participation, including green and left-leaning movements, leading to diverse coalition governments and shifting policy directions across national and local levels.