In the landscape of Icelandic politics, few parties have experienced such a rapid ascent, and recent steep decline, as the Left-Green Movement, or Vinstrihreyfingin, grænt framboð (VG). Brought into being in 1999 by a group of parliamentarians unwilling to join the newly formed Social Democratic Alliance, the Left-Green Movement built its identity on combining socialist principles with environmentalism and a distinctive Icelandic voice.
Ideals rooted in Icelandic history
Though officially established as a party in 1999, the Left-Green Movement traced aspects of its ideology back to the emergence of left-wing and socialist parties in Iceland in the early 20th century. In its modern form, VG emphasised democratic socialist values, gender equality, environmental protection and greater citizen involvement in governance. It consistently opposed Icelandic membership in the European Union and involvement in NATO, and was outspoken against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its platform championed rights for immigrants to participate and adapt within Icelandic society, and it maintained a lasting focus on feminism.
From outsider to government partner
Entering parliament with six seats in its debut election in 1999 and five in 2003, the party grew in influence, winning nine seats in 2007. Its high point came in 2009, when it increased its representation to 14 seats, capturing 21.7% of the national vote, close to the historic highs once achieved by Icelandic left-wing parties. This result put it only marginally behind the Independence Party, then Iceland’s largest political force.
The 2009 elections thrust the Left-Green Movement into the governing coalition, making them junior partners with the Social Democratic Alliance after the previous government’s collapse. The party’s most prominent era began in 2017, when party chair Katrín Jakobsdóttir became prime minister, leading a coalition with the centre-right Independence Party and the centrist Progressive Party. Jakobsdóttir became a defining figure, serving in this role until her 2024 presidential campaign.
Nonetheless, holding government office brought challenges and tested the movement’s internal unity. Between 2009 and 2013, public support dropped sharply from 21.7% to 10.9%. Disagreements over issues such as European Union membership and financial policies (notably the Icesave dispute) led several MPs to leave the party, weakening its parliamentary group.
Recent challenges and dramatic exit
Despite a strong showing in 2017, when the party reached 11 seats and again became the second-largest in parliament, its influence waned over the next years. Losses in the 2021 election, paired with internal and coalition frictions, culminated in a fracture in 2024. Jakobsdóttir’s failed presidential bid coincided with policy disputes that led the party to exit the government. The November 2024 election marked an unprecedented setback: for the first time, the Left-Green Movement secured no seats in the Alþingi.
Today, although absent from national parliament, the Left-Green Movement remains present in some local governments and stays linked to the international Nordic Green Left Alliance. Its evolution reflects the shifting currents of Icelandic social and political priorities, as well as the challenges faced by small, values-driven parties in navigating the ups and downs of coalition government and national debate.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
