The Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) is a center-right political party in Iceland. It was formed in 1929 through a merger of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The party supports Icelandic membership of NATO but is opposed to the idea of joining the European Union. The Independence Party (Iceland) This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... A political party is an organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... -1... The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4...

The Chairman of the Independence Party is Geir H. Haarde, Iceland's Minister of Foreign affairs. The Vice-Chairman of the party is Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister of Education, Science and Culture. Geir Hilmar Haarde (born April 8, 1951) is an Icelandic politician. ... Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (born 4 October 1965) is the Icelandic Minister of Education, Science and Culture since 31 December 2003, and has been a member of the Icelandic Parliament since 1999. ...

Prime ministers of Iceland from the Independence party have been, all the chairmen of the party: Ólafur Thors, Bjarni Benediktsson, Jóhann Hafstein, Geir Hallgrímsson, Þorsteinn Pálsson and Davíð Oddson. Jón Þorláksson, the first chairman of the Independence party was prime minister for the Conservative party prior to the foundation of the Independence party. Like Jón Þorláksson, there was another previously prime minister of Iceland that was amongst the founders of the Party, Sigurður Eggerz had been prime minister twice prior to the foundation of the party. Gunnar Thoroddsen was prime minister when he formed a government without general support of the Independence party. It has been criticized for being too liberal and not liberal enough at the same time. Ólafur Thors (January 19, 1892–December 31, 1964) was an Icelandic politician of the Independence Party, who served as Prime Minister of Iceland on five occasions: 16 May 1942 to 16 December 1942 21 October 1944 to 4 February 1947 6 December 1949 to 14 March 1950 11 September 1953... Bjarni Benediktsson (April 30, 1908 - July 10, 1970) was Prime Minister of Iceland from 14 November 1963 to 10 July 1970. ... Jóhann Hafstein was Prime Minister of Iceland from 10 July 1970 to 14 July 1971, for the Independence Party. ... Geir Hallgrímsson (December 16 1925 - September 1 1990) was Prime Minister of Iceland for the Independence Party from 28 August 1974 to 1 September 1978. ... Þorsteinn Pálsson born 29th of October 1947 was Prime Minister of Iceland for the Independence Party from 8 July 1987 to 28 September 1988. ... Davíð Oddsson Davíð Oddsson (born 17 January 1948, in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic politician and the longest serving Prime Minister of Iceland (1991–2004). ... Jón Þorláksson (3 March 1877–20 March 1935) was Prime Minister of Iceland from 8 July 1926 to 28 August 1927. ... Sigurður Eggerz, b. ... Gunnar Thoroddsen (December 29, 1910–September 27, 1983) was Prime Minister of Iceland from 8 February 1980 to 26 May 1983. ...

What mainly characterizes the ideas of the members of the Independence Party is a belief in the freedom of the individual and in each individual's assuming responsibility for his or her own actions, tolerance towards different points of view and ways of living, an emphasis on the common interests of different societal groups and doubts about the ability of the state to solve all problems.

Fundamental Values

A few key issues can best summarize the fundamental values of the Independence Party. First, the Independence Party is democratic. It places its confidence and trust in each and every citizen in the certainty that when he or she is given the circumstances and opportunities to use their talents and energy and reap the rewards of doing so, the greatest benefits for society as a whole are achieved. Some would regard putting democracy at the top of the list of issues that a political party in a democratic society stands for as stating the obvious. However, democracy means more to the Independence Party than to many political movements. The party has always stressed its belief that the nation is obliged to contribute to its own security and, at the same time, strengthen the defences of those parts of the world that enjoy the privileges of democratic rule. The Independence Party believes that democracy is worth fighting for. On the home front, the party has repeatedly fought for a just voting system in parliamentary elections. The party supports distribution of power in society and has put words into action in that area. However, first and foremost the policy of the Independence Party tells us that the economic freedom of individuals is one of the key prerequisites to democracy and decent standards of living in a modern nation. The main pillar of the Independence Party's policy is the freedom of each individual. Individual participation in the economy is vital to achieve progress and advancement. The party's advocates have claimed that the gain an active individual can harvest by his or her initiative and endeavour is an invaluable incentive for the economy. This energy is abundant and should never be restrained.

The policy of the Independent Party allows for solid power of the state within a limited field of action. The state must uphold law and order. It represents the nation in the international arena and takes care of its interests vis-à-vis other nations. It provides for many common needs that individuals are incapable of. In other areas, the state should minimize its actions and interference. The Independence Party's name has always been both a pledge and a concise explanation of the party's main policy. The Independence Party fought for the full independence of the nation and wants to ensure that independent individuals form the ballast of a free and powerful economy. The party's policy is based on people's ability to reap the benefit of their work and emphasises the importance of people finding it worthwhile to do their best. At the same time, care should be taken that people are not left destitute because of sickness or poverty; people who find themselves in such situations should be helped towards helping themselves. It is in accordance with the Independence Party's policy of equality that all Icelanders should have equal opportunities in terms of education and employment, and that conditions should enable everyone to develop and enjoy his or her talents. In certain instances, the state can be a useful tool towards achieving these goals. However, the Independence Party rejects the notion that it should be a desired goal to equalize people's positions to such a degree that working hard becomes irrelevant, and a person's efforts towards developing his or her talents, in his or her own interests or those of others, count for nothing.

The members of the Independence party will never become "specialists" in dividing economic assets between members of society and believe that such actions mostly succeed in increasing societal injustice. Rather, the Independence Party emphasises increasing affluence as the best way of securing general welfare, not least for those needing assistance.

Foreign Policy

The Independence Party has always played an important role in strengthening Iceland's ties with the international community and has endorsed international cooperation - whether political, cultural or military - in order to serve the nation's interests. Iceland is a member of the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the Nordic Council, the Council of Europe and the European Free Trade Association, to name a few organisations. As a participant in the European Economic Area, Iceland has direct access to the European Union's Open Market. Iceland is not a member of the European Union. Iceland supports the quest for and the preservation of democracy and human rights everywhere. Human rights are not to be compromised for any reason. They are one and the same for all human beings. Iceland has signed all major international human rights treaties and declarations and takes an active stand against human rights violations.

The Party's Position in Society

The policy of the Independence Party accords strongly with Icelanders, and the nation shares its values with the party. It has gained a strong position in society solely through democratic elections. It holds a majority in the councils of quite a number of towns or has formed a majority with another political party or movement in other municipalities. Since 1931 the party has generally gained 35%-42% of the votes cast in parliamentary elections and, since its foundation, has been the largest political party in Iceland. Percentage of votes cast in favour of the Independence Party in parliamentary elections 1931-1999 1931 43.8% 1946 39.50% 1963 41.40% 1983 38.70% 1933 48.0% 1949 39.50% 1967 37.50% 1987 27.20% 1934 42.3% 1953 37.10% 1971 36.20% 1991 38.60% 1937 41.3% 1956 42.40% 1974 42.70% 1995 37.10% 1942/7 39.5% 1959 42.50% 1978 32.70% 1999 40.70% 1942/10 38.5% 1959 39.70% 1979 35.40%

Structure and membership

The National Convention, which is held approximately biannually, is the highest authority in all matters of the party. The Central Board has executive power, determines the disposition of the party's assets and is responsible for upholding the party's organisational rules. The Central Board is a body of around 30 people, elected at the National Convention and appointed by the regional units, by the parliamentary group and by national organisations within the party. The Central Board can, under certain circumstances, decide the party's political policy.

The Executive Board is a body of five: the chairman of the party, the vice chairman plus three others elected by the Central Board. The executive board receives its power from the Central Board and has a coordinating function. The Party Council decides what the political policy of the party is whenever the National Convention has not produced a resolution. The different organisational entities of the party are represented in the Party Council as well as its employees, its candidates, its members and former members of parliament. Constituency Councils are responsible for mutual affairs of the party in the constituencies. Regional Councils elect their representatives. The Constituency Councils have the final word on lists of candidates in parliamentary elections. The smallest entities in each area, the Local Organisations, form a Council of Representatives that is responsible for taking care of the party's common interests in the area. The council of representatives decides the list of candidates in local elections.

Local Organisations are the basis of the party's functions. Every new member of the party joins a Local Organisation automatically. Each organisation has a democratic structure, with an elected board that has well defined responsibilities. The organisations' role is to strengthen the party as a whole and to gain support for its policy. In order to achieve their goals, the local units, for example, organise political meetings where experts and laymen debate relevant issues. All decisions regarding local issues are taken as close to home as possible and not from above. Apart from local organisations, there are 26 working groups, each assigned to a special issue, having the continuous task of revising the party's policy. Each working group has a board of four people - all experts in their fields - plus a representative of the parliamentary group. The groups formulate drafts - based on the fundamental values of the party - that are put before the National Convention and, after revisions and approval the outcome, 26 resolutions, form the party's policy. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Candidates' selection

As stated above, the Regional Organisations decide on the lists of candidates. The process of selection is either through a vote, where supporters of the party can make their own lists, or a regional organisation elects a committee that puts together a list. Local members decide everything with no interference from the party's leadership. Elections, both parliamentary and municipal, are held every four years.

Parliament and Government

The parliamentarians of the Independence Party all take part in legislative work through parliamentary committees and general sessions. In Iceland there is a strong tradition of coalitions of two or more political parties, since no single party has ever won a majority in the parliament. While in government the Independence Party has brought about many changes that have substantially benefited the economy as well as the people of the country.

Funding

Political parties in Iceland get unconditional financial support from the government to meet their expenses. Apart from this, the Independence Party enjoys financial support from many individuals and businesses.

The Fundamental Policy of the Independence Party

The Independence Party was founded on May 25th 1929 through the merger of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The Independence Party has always been a strong and vital social force in Iceland. The explanation of the party´s strong position is above all to be found in its policies and the ideals of its many members. Because of the Policy of Independence more Icelanders have been drawn towards the Independence Party than towards any other political movement. The Policy of Independence has never become a fully formed ideology. Rather, the members of the Independence Party are on a constant quest for new ideas which can prove useful in the never ending societal adaptation to changed conditions. What mostly characterizes the ideas of the members of the Independence Party is a belief in the freedom of the individual and in each individual assuming responsibility for his or her own actions, tolerance towards different points of view and ways of living, an emphasis on the common interests of different societal groups and doubts about the ability of the state to solve all problems. The party´s name, the Independence Party, has never simply been a name but always both a pledge and a concise explanation of the party´s main policy. The Independence Party fought for the full independence of the nation and wants to ensure that independent individuals form the ballast of a free and powerful economy. The party´s policy is based on people being able to reap the benefit of their work and places an emphasis on people finding it worth while to do their best. At the same time care should be taken that people are not left destitute because of sickness or poverty; people who find themselves in such situations should be helped towards helping themselves. It is in accordance with the Independence Party´s policy of equality that all Icelanders should have equal opportunities in terms of education and employment and that conditions should be such that everyone has an opportunity to develop and enjoy his or her talents. In certain instances the state can be a useful tool towards achieving those goals. However, the Independence Party rejects the notion that it should be a desired goal to equalize people´s positions to such a degree that working hard becomes irrelevant and a person´s efforts towards developing his or her talents, in his or her own interests or those of others, count for nothing. The members of the Independence party will never become "specialists" in dividing economic assets between members of society and believe that such actions mostly succeed in increasing societal injustice. Rather, the Independence Party places an emphasis on increasing affluence, since that way general welfare, not least for those who need assistance, can best be secured. History shows that when equality is combined with rewards for those who fruitfully use their talents and energy the greatest benefits for society as a whole are achieved.

SUS

Origins of SUS

The Independence Party (IP) is the largest political party in Iceland and has been so since its foundation in 1929. The IP was formed as two older political parties, The Conservative Party and the Liberal Party, merged. The initial aim of the party was to gain national independence from the Danish Crown. Other issues soon took precedence according to political realities. The issue of independence was, however, not forgotten, and in 1944 the nation successfully claimed independence with the unanimous consent of the Icelandic people. Since the end of World War II, the IP has been the dominant party in the Icelandic government. During the party's leadership important official policies have been made, including membership in NATO, expansion of the territorial waters, and free trade agreements such as EEA and GATT. A year later, in 1930, The National Youth Organization was founded at Þingvellir. Þingvellir in autumn Þingvellir (Icelandic Þing: parliament, vellir: plains) is a place in the southwest of Iceland near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. ...

Structure

SUS counts 10.000 members, aged 15-35. It is headed by a chairman and a governing board, both elected at the organization's biannual congress. All constituencies are represented by the 26 members of the governing board. On a day to day basis the organization is run by an executive committee composed of the chairman, two vice-chairmen, the secretary, the treasurer and the secretary general. On the local level the organization is subdivided into 39 offices spread throughout the country.

Purpose and role

A vital function of SUS is to explain and promote the party platform among young people and to solicit their support. To achieve this the organization publishes various political papers and tracts, organizes and participates in meetings, seminars and conferences, on an international as well as a national basis. The organization thus serves as a forum where young people can exchange ideas and gain a better understanding of the political process. Another important function of the organization is to bring the attention of party leaders to issues of primary concern to young people, and to ensure that the opinion of the Young Independents, regarding official party policy, is taken into account. It is the belief of those involved, that the ideals and feelings of The National Youth Organization keep the Independence Party from stagnation and it has often, and justifiably so, been spoken of as the party's conscience.

International contacts

SUS has cultivated relations with numerous foreign organizations which share its political ideals. It is a member of The Nordic Union of Young Conservatives (NUU), The Democratic Youth Community of Europe (DEMYC), The International Young Democrat Union (IYDU), and The European Young Conservatives (EYC).

Current issues

Currently SUS advocates, on the domestic level, decreased government interference in the economy, increased privatization, and decreased taxation. In foreign policy the organization is a strong supporter of free trade as a tool to bring peace and prosperity to all. It supports the principle of self-determination to all nations. From the beginning the organization has strongly supported Iceland's membership in NATO. The organization is against Iceland applying to the EU.

Party Chairman

The Chairman of the Independence Party is the party's leading figure. The Chairman is elected by representatives on the party general meeting held every second year and lead the party election campaigns and coalition forming. The current incumbent is Geir H. Haarde, elected unopposed on the 2005 general meeting. Geir Hilmar Haarde (born April 8, 1951) is an Icelandic politician. ...

List of Chairmen of the Independence Party:

A chairman is the presiding officer of a meeting, organization, committee, or other deliberative body. ... Jón Þorláksson (3 March 1877–20 March 1935) was Prime Minister of Iceland from 8 July 1926 to 28 August 1927. ... -1... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) is a leap year starting on Friday. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ólafur Thors (January 19, 1892–December 31, 1964) was an Icelandic politician of the Independence Party, who served as Prime Minister of Iceland on five occasions: 16 May 1942 to 16 December 1942 21 October 1944 to 4 February 1947 6 December 1949 to 14 March 1950 11 September 1953... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Bjarni Benediktsson (April 30, 1908 - July 10, 1970) was Prime Minister of Iceland from 14 November 1963 to 10 July 1970. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Jóhann Hafstein was Prime Minister of Iceland from 10 July 1970 to 14 July 1971, for the Independence Party. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Geir Hallgrímsson (December 16 1925 - September 1 1990) was Prime Minister of Iceland for the Independence Party from 28 August 1974 to 1 September 1978. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Þorsteinn Pálsson born 29th of October 1947 was Prime Minister of Iceland for the Independence Party from 8 July 1987 to 28 September 1988. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Davíð Oddsson Davíð Oddsson (born 17 January 1948, in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic politician and the longest serving Prime Minister of Iceland (1991–2004). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Geir Hilmar Haarde (born April 8, 1951) is an Icelandic politician. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Independence Party official site (in English)
• The United Youth Independence Organizations in Iceland, named Samband ungra sjálfstæðismanna or SUS in Icelandic, is one of the oldest political youth movements in Iceland. Its president is Borgar Þór Einarsson.