Editing Left-Green Movement

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Left-Green Movement
| native_name      = Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð
| native_name_lang = is
| abbreviation     = VG
| split            = [[People's Alliance (Iceland)|People's Alliance]]<br>[[Women's List]]
| logo             = Logo of the Left-Green Movement.svg
| logo_size        = 150
| colorcode        = {{party color|Left-Green Movement}}
| chairperson      = [[Svandís Svavarsdóttir]]
| leader1_title    = Vice-chairperson
| leader1_name     = [[Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson]]
| leader2_title    = [[Parliament|Chairperson of the parliamentary group]]
| leader2_name     = [[Orri Páll Jóhannsson]]
| leader3_title    = [[Political Party|General Secretary]]
| leader3_name     = [[Björg Eva Erlendsdóttir]]
| founded          = {{Start date|1999|2|6|df=yes}}
| headquarters     = Túngata 14 101, [[Reykjavík]]
| youth_wing       = Young Left-Greens
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |[[Eco-socialism]]
 |[[Democratic socialism]]{{refn|<ref name="Nordsieck">{{cite web|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|date=2017|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/iceland.html|title=Iceland|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref><ref>[https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/ipa/05818.pdf Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe From Marxism to the Mainstream? Luke March, 2008, P.4]</ref>}}
 |[[Feminism]]{{refn|<ref name="Nordsieck"/><ref name="grape">[http://www.grapevine.is/Features/ReadArticle/Vinstrihreyfingin-Graent-Frambod-The-Left-Green-Movement-Interviewed "The Reykjavík Grapevine Election Guide 2013"]. ''[[The Reykjavík Grapevine]]''. 5 April 2013. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914044454/http://www.grapevine.is/Features/ReadArticle/Vinstrihreyfingin-Graent-Frambod-The-Left-Green-Movement-Interviewed|date=14 September 2013}}. Retrieved 14 September 2013 </ref>}}
 |[[Pacifism]]{{refn|<ref name="Nordsieck"/><ref name="grape2">[https://grapevine.is/mag/articles/2013/04/08/vinstrihreyfingin-graent-frambod-the-left-green-movement-interviewed"]. ''[[The Reykjavík Grapevine]]''.</ref>}}
}}
| position         = {{nowrap|[[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Milne|first=Richard|date=30 November 2017|url=https://www.ft.com/content/26f9c1e4-d5a2-11e7-8c9a-d9c0a5c8d5c9 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/26f9c1e4-d5a2-11e7-8c9a-d9c0a5c8d5c9 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Iceland forms left-right coalition government|newspaper=Financial Times|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> to [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]{{refn|<ref>Ćirić, Jelena (27 October 2017). [http://icelandreview.com/news/2017/10/27/icelandic-parliamentary-election-2017-party-overview "Icelandic Parliamentary Election 2017: Party Overview"]. ''Iceland Review''. Retrieved 28 December 2017.</ref><ref>Sigurðardóttir, Guðrún Helga (17 November 2017). [http://www.nordiclabourjournal.org/nyheter/news-2017/article.2017-11-16.7317863662 "Katrín Jakobsdóttir tipped as Iceland's new Prime Minister"]. ''Nordic Labour Journal''. Retrieved 28 December 2017.</ref>}}}}
| colours          = {{colour box|{{party color|Left-Green Movement}}|border=silver}} Green {{colour box|#F7302B|border=silver}} Red
| affiliation1_title = Nordic affiliation
| affiliation1     = [[Nordic Green Left Alliance]]
| seats1_title     = [[Althing]]
| seats1           = {{composition bar|0|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
| symbol           = V
| website          = {{URL|vg.is}}
| country          = Iceland
}}
The '''Left-Green Movement''' ({{langx|is|Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð}}, {{literally|Left Movement – Green Candidature}}), also known by its short-form name '''Vinstri græn''' ('''VG'''), is an [[Eco-socialism|eco-socialist]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Field |first=Luke |date=2021-09-29 |title=Iceland's centrist vote has resurged, but the left still has opportunities to govern and grow in a fragmented party system – RLS Brüssel |url=https://www.rosalux.eu/en/article/2012.iceland-s-centrist-vote-has-resurged-but-the-left-still-has-opportunities-to-govern.html |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=rosalux.eu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-25 |title=Iceland Votes, With Its Dependence on Tourism Exposed |language=en |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-25/iceland-votes-with-its-dependence-on-tourism-exposed-by-covid |access-date=2022-07-11}}</ref> [[List of political parties in Iceland|political party]] in [[Iceland]].<ref name="Nordsieck"/>

Since the [[2024 Icelandic parliamentary election]], the party has had no members in the [[Althing]]. The party chairperson is [[Svandís Svavarsdóttir]], the vice chair is [[Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson]], and the general secretary is Björg Eva Erlendsdóttir. 

The Left-Green Movement is a member of the [[Nordic Green Left Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nordic-green-left-alliance.org/en/vg.htm|title=The Left-Green Movement of Iceland|work=Nordic Green Left Alliance|access-date=19 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218120750/http://www.nordic-green-left-alliance.org/en/vg.htm|archive-date=18 February 2010}}</ref>

== History ==
The party was founded in 1999 by members of Althing who did not approve of the merger of left-wing political parties in [[Iceland]] which resulted in the formation of the [[Social Democratic Alliance]].

In the [[1999 Icelandic parliamentary election]], the Left-Green Movement took 9.1% of the vote and six seats in the Althing. The party had five members in the 63-seat Icelandic parliament after the [[2003 Icelandic parliamentary election]], where it polled 8.8% of the vote. After the [[2007 Icelandic parliamentary election]], the party had 9 seats in parliament, having received 14.3% of the vote.

After the [[2009 Icelandic parliamentary election]], the Left-Green Movement joined the [[first cabinet of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir]] as the minor partner to the [[centre-left]] [[Social Democratic Alliance]] after the previous coalition government of the Alliance and the [[centre-right]] [[Independence Party (Iceland)|Independence Party]] collapsed. In the [[2009 Icelandic parliamentary election]], it rose from nine seats to 14. With this, it became Iceland's third-largest party (close behind the Independence Party) with 21.7% of the vote; this was the second largest outcome of a [[left-wing]] party in Iceland after the post-communist [[People's Alliance (Iceland)|People's Alliance]] in 1978, when it got 22.9% of the vote. The party gained one seat in addition, when a non-party parliamentarian joined the party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2010/09/09/independent-icelandic-mp-joins-left-greens/|title=Independent Icelandic MP joins Left Greens|work=IceNews|access-date=19 September 2010}}</ref> Later, three members of the parliamentary group have left the party. One joined the [[Nordic agrarian]] [[Progressive Party (Iceland)|Progressive Party]] and two others became [[Nonpartisan politician|non-partisans]]. After the [[2013 Icelandic parliamentary election]], the party was in the opposition and had seven seats in the parliament. In the [[2016 Icelandic parliamentary election]], the party polled 15.9% of the vote and 10 seats in the Althing, becoming the second largest party, tied with the [[Pirate Party (Iceland)|Pirates]], after the Independence Party. However, after the collapse of the coalition government and [[2017 Icelandic parliamentary election|snap parliamentary elections in 2017]], the party increased its seats in parliament to 11 and became the second-largest party, forming a three-party coalition with the Independence Party and Progressive Party, and party chair [[Katrín Jakobsdóttir]] became the prime minister. The party lost three seats in the [[2021 Icelandic parliamentary election|2021 parliamentary elections]], but stayed in government. After the 2021 parliamentary [[2021 Icelandic parliamentary election|election]], the new government was, just like the previous government, a tri-party coalition of the [[Independence Party (Iceland)|Independence Party]], the [[Progressive Party (Iceland)|Progressive Party]] and the Left-Green Movement, headed by Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Government of Iceland Takes Office |url=https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2021/11/29/new_government_of_iceland_takes_office/ |work=Iceland Monitor |date=29 November 2021}}</ref>

Katrín stepped down as prime minister and party leader to run for [[President of Iceland]] in the [[2024 Icelandic presidential election|2024 election]], which she lost, coming in second place after [[Halla Tómasdóttir]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir set to become Iceland's next president |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/2/businesswoman-halla-tomasdottir-set-to-become-icelands-next-president |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> She was replaced as prime minister by the Independence Party's [[Bjarni Benediktsson (born 1970)|Bjarni Benediktsson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=RÚV |first=Fréttastofa |date=2024-04-05 |title=Katrín Jakobsdóttir býður sig fram til forseta - RÚV.is |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/409293 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=RÚV}}</ref> [[Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson]] became the interim party leader after Katrín. He returned to his position as vice-chairperson when [[Svandís Svavarsdóttir]] was elected as the new party leader in October of 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.icelandreview.com/news/svandis-elected-left-green-movement-leader/ |title=Svandís Elected Left-Green Movement Leader |accessdate=2024-10-06 |author=Steindor Gretar Jonsson |date=2024-10-06 |work=Iceland Review |language=en}}</ref> On 13 October, Bjarni announced that the government had collapsed due to disputes over foreign policy, asylum seekers, and energy, prompting him to call for [[2024 Icelandic parliamentary election|a parliamentary election]] in November.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/13/iceland-pm-calls-new-election-as-coalition-government-collapses|title=Iceland PM calls new election as coalition government collapses |work=Al Jazeera |date=13 October 2024 |accessdate=14 October 2024}}</ref> Four days after the announcement, the Left-Green Movement withdrew from the government.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2024-10-17-rikisradsfundur-a-bessastodum-vinstri-graen-formlega-haett-424987 | title = Ríkisráðsfundur á Bessastöðum: Vinstri græn formlega hætt | publisher = [[RÚV]] | date = 17 October 2024 | access-date = 29 November 2024 | language = is }}</ref>

In the [[2024 Icelandic parliamentary election|subsequent election]], the Left-Green Movement [[Electoral wipeout|lost all their seats]].

== Ideology ==
The Left-Green Movement focuses on [[Democratic socialism|democratic socialist]] values, [[feminism]], and [[environmentalism]], as well as increased democracy and direct involvement of the people in the administration of the country. The party opposes Iceland's involvement in [[NATO]], and also the American invasion and occupation of [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]]. The party rejects [[Iceland–European Union relations|membership of the European Union]], and supports the [[State of Palestine|Palestinian]] cause in the Middle East. It considers the mutual adaptation and integration of immigrants into Icelandic society as necessary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.is/tungumal/english/|title=The Left-Green Movement|work=Left-Green Movement homepage|access-date=19 September 2010|archive-url=http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20070502162006/www.vg.is/tungumal/english/|archive-date=2 May 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Election results ==
{|class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|-
!Election
!Leader
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!+/–
!Position
!Government
|-
![[1999 Icelandic parliamentary election|1999]]
|rowspan=4 | [[Steingrímur J. Sigfússon]]
|15,115
|9.12
|{{composition bar|6|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|New
|{{steady}} 4th
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2003 Icelandic parliamentary election|2003]]
|16,129
|8.80
|{{composition bar|5|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|{{steady}} 4th
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2007 Icelandic parliamentary election|2007]]
|26,136
|14.35
|{{composition bar|9|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|{{increase}} 4
|{{increase}} 3rd
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2009 Icelandic parliamentary election|2009]]
|40,581
|21.68
|{{composition bar|14|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|{{increase}} 5
|{{steady}} 3rd
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
![[2013 Icelandic parliamentary election|2013]]
|rowspan=4 | [[Katrín Jakobsdóttir]]
|20,546
|10.87
|{{composition bar|7|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|{{decrease}} 7
|{{decrease}} 4th
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2016 Icelandic parliamentary election|2016]]
|30,166
|15.91
|{{composition bar|10|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|{{increase}} 3
|{{increase}} 2nd
|{{No2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2017 Icelandic parliamentary election|2017]]
|33,155
|16.89
|{{composition bar|11|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|{{steady}} 2nd
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
![[2021 Icelandic parliamentary election|2021]]
|25,114
|12.57
|{{composition bar|8|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|{{decrease}} 3
|{{decrease}} 3rd
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
![[2024 Icelandic parliamentary election|2024]]
|[[Svandís Svavarsdóttir]]
|4,973
|2.34
|{{composition bar|0|63|hex={{party color|Left-Green Movement}}}}
|{{decrease}} 8
|{{decrease}} 9th
|{{no|Extra-parliamentary}}
|}

== Leadership ==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!Nº
!colspan="2"|Chairman
!Took office
!Left office
|-
|style="text-align: right;"|1
|[[File:Steingrímur_J._Sigfússon_norden-1 (cropped).jpg|100px]]
|[[Steingrímur J. Sigfússon]]<br><small>(born 1955)</small>
|1999
|2013
|-
|style="text-align: right;"|2
|[[File:Katrín_Jakobsdóttir_(cropped).jpg|100px]]
|[[Katrín Jakobsdóttir]]<br><small>(born 1976)</small>
|2013
|2024
|-
|style="text-align: right;"|3
|[[File:Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson.jpg|100px]]
|[[Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson]]<br><small>(born 1977)</small>
|April 2024 (as acting chairperson)
|October 2024
|-
|style="text-align: right;"|3
|[[File:Svandís Svavarsdóttir 2021.jpg|100px]]
|[[Svandís Svavarsdóttir]]<br><small>(born 1964)</small>
|October 2024
|present
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://vg.is/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100218120750/http://www.nordic-green-left-alliance.org/en/vg.htm The Left-Green Movement page] at the [[Nordic Green Left Alliance]] website

{{green parties}}
{{parties of Iceland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1999 establishments in Iceland]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1999]]
[[Category:Eurosceptic parties in Iceland]]
[[Category:Left-Green Movement| ]]
[[Category:Left-wing parties]]
[[Category:Eco-socialist parties]]
[[Category:Environmentalism in Iceland]]
[[Category:Feminist political parties in Iceland]]
[[Category:Nordic Green Left Alliance]]
[[Category:Opposition to NATO]]
[[Category:Secularism in Iceland]]
[[Category:Socialist parties in Iceland]]
[[Category:Centre-left parties in Europe]]