Progressive Party (Iceland)

History

The Progressive Party was founded to represent Iceland's farmer class, which went from being dominant from settlement to the late 19th century to rapidly dwindling in the early 20th century as a result of industrialization and urbanization. Its primary support still comes from the rural areas of Iceland and its policy roots still stem from its origin as an agrarian party, although it has since come to self-identify as a liberal party, though this is disputed outside of the party. It was founded in 1916 as a merger of two agrarian parties, the Farmers' Party (Bændaflokkur) and the Independent Farmers (Óháðir bændur). In 1956 the party almost agreed to an aborted merger with the Social Democratic Party. Throughout Iceland's history as a self-governing and independent nation, the Progressive Party has most often been the second largest political party in the country. It has often joined government coalitions with either the Independence Party on the centre-right, or with centre-left parties. During the period 1927–1990, the Progressive Party held the prime minister post for thirty years and spent more than two-thirds of the time in coalition government.

1970s

Following the 1971 parliamentary election, the Progressive Party formed a government with the People's Alliance and Union of Liberals and Leftists, with Progressive Party chairman Ólafur Jóhannesson serving as prime minister.

The 1974 parliamentary election led to a coalition government of the Independence Party and Progressive Party led by Geir Hallgrímsson.

The 1978 parliamentary election returned Ólafur Jóhannesson to the role of prime minister, leading a coalition containing the Progressive Party, People's Alliance and Social Democratic Party after two months of coalition negotiations.

The snap 1979 parliamentary election caused by the withdrawal of the Social Democrats from government led to a new government being formed in February 1980 by the Independence Party of Prime Minister Gunnar Thoroddsen, Progressive Party and People's Alliance.

1980s

The 1983 parliamentary election resulted in Progressive Party leader Steingrímur Hermannsson becoming prime minister in coalition with the Independence Party.

The 1987 parliamentary election in May saw a coalition being formed in July of that year led by Thorsteinn Pálsson of the Independence Party, with the Progressive Party and Social Democratic Party as junior partners. However, in September 1988, a new government was formed by the Progressive Party's Steingrímur Hermannsson with the Social Democrats and People's Alliance.

1990s

Following the 1991 parliamentary election, the Progressive Party, with Steingrímur Hermannsson as the outgoing Prime Minister, was in opposition, with the government being formed by Independence Party leader Davíð Oddsson. Steingrímur resigned as leader in 1994, with deputy leader Halldór Ásgrímsson elected leader.

In the 1995 parliamentary election, Davíð Oddsson remained as prime minister, with the Progressive Party returning to government as junior coalition partner to the conservative Independence Party, a coalition which continued after the 1999 election. Halldór's direction to the right cited in the party changing from the centre-left to the centre-right.

2000s

In the 2003 parliamentary election, the Progressive Party received 17.2% of the vote and 12 seats in the Althing. On 15 September 2004, Halldór Ásgrímsson of the Progressive Party took over as prime minister from Davíð Oddsson. Halldór Ásgrímsson announced his intention to resign on 5 June 2006 following the party's poor results in the 2006 municipal elections, and low approval ratings. The coalition remained allied with the Independence Party chairman, Geir H. Haarde, as prime minister. The Progressive Party leader Jón Sigurðsson was Minister of Industry and Commerce, until a coalition of the Independence Party and the Social Democratic Alliance took over after the elections in 2007.

In the 2007 parliamentary election, the party dropped five seats to hold only seven seats, down from twelve. The coalition only held a one-seat majority in the Althing, and the Independence Party formed a coalition government with the Social Democratic Alliance with the deal being signed on 22 May, returning the Progressive Party to the opposition. Party leader Jón Sigurðsson did not get a seat in parliament, and resigned and was succeeded by long-time cabinet minister Guðni Ágústsson in 2007. Guðni resigned as leader out of nowhere in November 2008, in the wake of the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis, saying that he was not the right person to lead the party at the moment. Former cabinet minister Valgerður Sverrisdóttir took over as leader, and called a leadership election where she would not be standing. Former news reporter, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson was unexpectedly and narrowly elected leader. When a centre-left minority government was formed in February 2009, the Progressive Party agreed to defend it from a no-confidence vote, but did not form part of the governing coalition.

In January 2009, it decided to change its party line on joining the European Union (EU) from being opposed to being in favour of EU accession, but with very strong caveats. The party later changed its policy to one of firm opposition to EU membership. In the wake of the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis, the Progressive Party became more populist. According to political scientist Eiríkur Bergmann, "a completely renewed leadership took over the country’s old agrarian party, the Progressive Party (Framsóknarflokkurinn— PP), which was rapidly retuned in a more populist direction; geared against foreign creditors, international institutions and eventually partly towards anti- Muslim rhetoric, which until then had been absent in the country—there is no significant Muslim minority in Iceland. Under the new post-crisis leader- ship, the Progressive Party thus moved closer to populist parties in Europe." At the time, the party moved completely from the centre and became much more of a plain right wing party.

In the 2009 parliamentary election, the Progressive Party fared somewhat better, securing 14.8% of the vote, and increasing its number of seats from seven to nine. It remained in opposition, however, with a centre-left coalition of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement continuing to govern with an increased majority.

2010s

In the 2013 parliamentary election, the Progressive Party reached second place nationally, winning 24.4% of the vote and 19 seats. Following the election, a centre-right coalition government was formed between the Progressive Party and Independence Party, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson of the Progressive Party appointed as prime minister. Sigmundur Davíð was a very polarising figure in Iceland during his tenture as prime minister, and suffered low approval ratings. Sigmundur Davíð was ousted as leader in September 2016 of the party shortly after he was implicated in scandal and ethical quandaries in the Panama Papers release in April 2016, which followed his resignation. Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson defeated him in the leadership spill election, and took the party to a more grounded centre approach.

The Progressive Party split in 2017 when Sigmundur Davíð created his own party, the Centre Party (Miðflokkurinn). In 2017, the Progressive Party entered a coalition with the Independence Party and the Left Green movement.

2020s

After the 2021 parliamentary election, the new government was, just like the previous government, a three-party coalition of the Independence Party, the Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement, headed by Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Left-Green Movement. In the election, the Progressives suffered a big increase in votes, reaching 17% and coming in second.

Following the fall of the coalition in October 2024, a snap election was called for November. In the election, the Progressives suffered a very big loss, losing eight seats and coming in sixth. During the election, the party took a turn in immigration policies, becoming pro-immigration. Many have called upon Sigurður Ingi to resign as leader.

Election results

Members of Parliament

Until the elections in 2024, the Progressive Party had thirteen members of parliament.

Leadership

Members of the party who served as prime minister but not as leader

References

References

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