forgangsraðri

Forgangsraðri is an Icelandic political term used to describe the lead candidate on a party's electoral list. It denotes the person placed first on the list, who is most likely to win a seat if the party gains representation in the parliament. The concept reflects the importance of ordering in proportional representation systems, where the top positions on a list have a higher chance of translating votes into seats.

Etymology and usage context: The term is a compound built from forgangur, meaning priority or precedence, combined with a component related to ordering or sequence, with a suffix that marks the person associated with that position. In practice, forgangsraðri is used in political analysis and media to refer to the candidate who represents the party at the forefront of the campaign.

Role and implications: A party may promote its forgangsraðri to signal leadership, policy priorities, and electoral strategy. The status is not a formal title but a conventional label that helps describe how a party allocates its campaign resources and invites public discussion about leadership and compatibility with the party platform. Discussions about forgangsraðri often appear in coverage of candidate selection, coalition prospects, and post-election planning.

See also: party list, lead candidate, electoral list, proportional representation.