Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson announced the dissolution of parliament on October 14, 2024, with elections scheduled for November 30, 2024. This decision follows disagreements within the governing coalition regarding asylum seekers and energy efficiency policies [b2f5edc1]. Benediktsson, who took office in April 2024, leads a coalition comprising the Independence Party, Progressive Party, and Left Greens. The political climate has been further complicated by recent volcanic eruptions that have impacted the economy, which is already grappling with high inflation and rising interest rates [b2f5edc1].
In the previous election, Halla Tomasdottir, an entrepreneur and businesswoman, was elected as the new president of Iceland, defeating former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir with 34% of the votes to Jakobsdottir's 25% [13451a30]. Tomasdottir's presidency, while mostly ceremonial, marks a significant shift in Iceland's political landscape, especially as the country navigates challenges such as economic pressures and environmental issues stemming from volcanic activity [13451a30].