Iceland PM quits after Pirates advance in vote

AFP, REYKJAVIK: Iceland was gearing up Sunday for tough horsetrading over its next government after the anti-establishment Pirate Party and its allies gained ground against the ruling centre-right in a vote triggered by the Panama Papers scandal.Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson announced his resignation after his centrist Progressive Party—which had been governing in a coalition with the conservative Independence Party—suffered a drubbing in Saturday’s vote.Final figures from the election, called after Johannsson’s predecessor was forced out over revelations in the Panama Papers of a hidden offshore account worth millions, pointed to a deadlocked outcome.The Independence and Progressive parties together won 29 seats in the 63-member parliament or Althingi, down nine from the outgoing assembly. The Pirates and its three centre-left allies won 27 seats, reaping gains from a wave of popular anger with the establishment parties but falling short of a majority.Johannsson, an unpopular figure over his perceived closeness to business, said he will remain in office until a new government is formed in the volcanic island nation.

 

Iceland PM quits after Pirates advance in vote

AFP, REYKJAVIK: Iceland was gearing up Sunday for tough horsetrading over its next government after the anti-establishment Pirate Party and its allies gained ground against the ruling centre-right in a vote triggered by the Panama Papers scandal.Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson announced his resignation after his centrist Progressive Partywhich had been governing in a coalition with the conservative Independence Partysuffered a drubbing in Saturdays vote.Final figures from the election, called after Johannssons predecessor was forced out over revelations in the Panama Papers of a hidden offshore account worth millions, pointed to a deadlocked outcome.The Independence and Progressive parties together won 29 seats in the 63-member parliament or Althingi, down nine from the outgoing assembly. The Pirates and its three centre-left allies won 27 seats, reaping gains from a wave of popular anger with the establishment parties but falling short of a majority.Johannsson, an unpopular figure over his perceived closeness to business, said he will remain in office until a new government is formed in the volcanic island nation.