Viðreisn (lit.'Revival',[3] 'Reform',[4] or 'Regeneration'),[5] officially known in English as the Liberal Reform Party,[6] is a liberal[7] political party in Iceland positioned on the centre[10] to centre-right[13] of the political spectrum. The party was founded on 24 May 2016 but it had existed as a political network since June 2014.[14] It split from the Independence Party, mainly over discontent with its decision to not hold a referendum on joining the European Union and the lack of support for free trade.

Liberal Reform Party
Viðreisn
ChairpersonÞorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir
Vice-chairpersonDaði Már Kristófersson
FounderBenedikt Jóhannesson
Founded24 May 2016
Split fromIndependence Party
HeadquartersReykjavik, Iceland
Youth wingUppreisn
Ideology
Political positionCentre to centre-right
European affiliationAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
Nordic affiliationCentre Group
Colours  Orange
Seats in Parliament
11 / 63
Election symbol
C
Website
www.vidreisn.is

The party supports Icelandic EU membership, and reform of agricultural subsidies and protective excise taxes on foreign produce. It wants public policy to focus on the general interest of society and reduce influence from special interests. Viðreisn is in favor of a publicly financed welfare state.[15] It supports pegging the króna to another currency, such as the euro, through a currency board as a plan to lower interest rates.[16] Its healthcare policy aims at reducing the patient's share of healthcare costs.[17]

Viðreisn has been assigned the list letter C.[18] It participated in the 2016 elections to the Althing (Icelandic parliament) and won seven seats.[19]

Electoral results

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Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Government
2016 19,870 10.5
7 / 63
  7   5th Coalition
2017 13,122 6.7
4 / 63
  3   8th Opposition
2021 16,628 8.3
5 / 63
  1   7th Opposition
2024 33,606 15.8
11 / 63
  6   3rd TBA

Party chairperson

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Chairperson Period
  Benedikt Jóhannesson

(born 1955)

2016–2017
  Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir

(born 1965)

2017–

References

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  1. ^ a b The Baltic Sea Region: A Comprehensive Guide: History, Politics, Culture and Economy of a European Role Model. Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag. 15 September 2017. p. 337. ISBN 978-3-8305-1748-1.
  2. ^ a b Jelena Ćirić (27 October 2017). "Icelandic Parliamentary Election 2017: Party Overview". Iceland Review. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  3. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20160807064520/http://icelandreview.com/news/2016/05/25/new-political-party-established-iceland New Political Party Established in Iceland
  4. ^ "Icelanders vote for stability as Pirates fall short of expectations". Reuters. 30 October 2016.
  5. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20160806114920/http://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2016/04/01/pirates_still_ruling_the_roost_in_iceland/ Pirates still ruling the roost in Iceland
  6. ^ "Viðreisn". Viðreisn. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  7. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017). "Iceland". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  8. ^ Ćirić, Jelena (20 September 2021). "Four-Party Coalition Likely Following Election". Iceland Review. Retrieved 13 March 2023. Of the seven four-party coalitions, the centrist Reform Party is included in five of them.
  9. ^ Milne, Richard (15 September 2017). "Icelandic government collapses after latest scandal". Financial Times. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  10. ^ [8][9]
  11. ^ "Iceland's Pirate party invited to form government". TheGuardian.com. 2 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Iceland holds second snap election in a year of scandals". 28 October 2017.
  13. ^ [2][11][12]
  14. ^ "Viðreisn undirbýr framboð". www.mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  15. ^ "Our Core Manifesto". Viðreisn official website. 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  16. ^ Paul Fontaine (October 10, 2016). "Where Do They Want To Take Us? The Platforms Explained". The Reykjavik Grapevine.
  17. ^ "Heilbrigðis- og velferðarmál". Viðreisn (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  18. ^ Hólmfríður Gísladóttir, E, F, N, O, P, U, X, Y, Æ og Ö, Morgunblaðið (June 7, 2016).
  19. ^ Helgadóttir, Oddný (October 30, 2016). "No, the Pirates didn't win Iceland's elections. Here's what happened instead". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
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