Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Signature requirement (specify requirement)
Comments: The political parties are only required to register when running for first time in parliamentary elections. The party has to register its name and present a list of at least three hundred voters declaring their support for the party.
Source: Parliamentary Elections Act, Art. 38
https://www.legislationline.org/download/id/3897/file/Iceland_Act_Parliamentary_Elections_to_Althing_2000_en.pdf
Verified: 2020/07/27
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship d . Residence
Comments: Candidates for legislative election must be eligible to vote in elections and residents of Iceland.
Source: Parliamentary Elections Act, Chapter 7
https://www.legislationline.org/download/id/3897/file/Iceland_Act_Parliamentary_Elections_to_Althing_2000_en.pdf
Verified: 2020/07/27
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
b . In presidential elections
Comments: “Political organisations” in this Act means organisations that put forward candidates or have done so for the Althing elections. Each electoral list must be accompanied by a written declaration from its voters stating which political organisation the candidates on the list represent. All electoral lists that are put forward for the same political organisation will be matched together when the compensatory seats are allocated pursuant to Article 108. If the above declaration is missing the list will be considered a special candidature.
Source: Parliamentary Elections Act, Art. 32
https://www.legislationline.org/download/id/3897/file/Iceland_Act_Parliamentary_Elections_to_Althing_2000_en.pdf
Verified: 2020/07/27
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments: "Direct public funding is provided through (Chapter II, Law No. 162/2006): (i) annual contributions from the State Treasury (according to authorisation given by the Parliament to the Ministry of Finance in the State budget). This type of support consists of two different allocations: (a) financial grants divided between parties according to votes gained in the last general elections. Parties which obtained at least one seat in Parliament or received more than 2.5 % of votes in the last general elections can apply for such grants; and (b) parliamentary support for every party represented in parliament. An equal amount, called a “unit”, is to be paid for each Member of Parliament. One unit is also paid for each parliamentary group. In addition, an amount equalling twelve units is allocated to parliamentary groups of the political organisations that have no seats in the Government, dividing these units among them in proportion to the number of votes. ... (ii) annual contributions from municipalities: local authorities with more than 500 inhabitants are to support parties which have obtained at least one seat in the local council or at least 5% of the votes cast in the last municipal election. The overall amount of the funding to be provided is to be decided by the local authority itself at the time of adoption of the municipal budget and distributed on a proportional basis. Smaller communities are free to decide whether to provide financial support to parties, but if they do so, they are bound by the same aforementioned rules. In 2007, 32,750,000 ISK3 (271,635 EUR) was distributed proportionately to the parties with seats in Reykjavik’s City Council. In 2008, the contribution to political parties from the city of Reykjavík will amount to 33,600,000 ISK (278,685 EUR)."
Source: Government of Iceland Prime Minister's Office (2010) Progress Report on RC-III Iceland, The Implementation of the Recommendations of GRECO on Iceland of party funding (theme II), Page 5
https://www.stjornarradid.is/media/innanrikisraduneyti-media/media/2010/GrecoRC3%282010%292_Iceland_EN.pdf
Verified: 2020/07/27
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
c . Based on current legislative representation
Comments:
Source: Government of Iceland Prime Minister's Office (2010) Progress Report on RC-III Iceland, The Implementation of the Recommendations of GRECO on Iceland of party funding (theme II), Page 5
https://www.stjornarradid.is/media/innanrikisraduneyti-media/media/2010/GrecoRC3%282010%292_Iceland_EN.pdfv
Verified: 2020/07/27
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Government of Iceland Prime Minister's Office (2010) Progress Report on RC-III Iceland, The Implementation of the Recommendations of GRECO on Iceland of party funding (theme II)
https://www.stjornarradid.is/media/innanrikisraduneyti-media/media/2010/GrecoRC3%282010%292_Iceland_EN.pdf
Verified: 2020/07/27
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