Icelandic voters have rejected resuming membership negotiations with the EU. The result was 52.8 percent for the “no” side versus 47.2 percent for the “yes” side after an intense campaign in which control over fisheries, independence, and Iceland’s future relationship with Brussels took center stage.
On Saturday, Iceland voted against resuming EU membership negotiations, which had been suspended for more than a decade. Once all the votes had been counted, 118,040 voters had voted "no" and 105,339 had voted "yes.".
Voter turnout was 82.5 percent, with a total of 225,031 voters. The Icelandic public service channel RÚV noted that voter turnout was the highest in several Icelandic elections since the 2009 parliamentary election, when it reached 85.1 percent.
The capital said yes—the countryside said no
The results reveal a sharp geographical divide. In northern Reykjavik, the "yes" side received 57.5 percent of the vote, and in southern Reykjavik, 54.5 percent, while the "no" side won decisively outside the capital.
In the northwestern district, 62.9 percent voted “no,” and in the northeastern district, 61.2 percent did so. In the southern district, the “no” side won with 60.5 percent, while the southwestern district also ended with a “no” victory, 53.0 percent to 47.0 percent.
Fishing Became a Matter of Power
Control over Iceland’s extensive fishing industry was one of the most important issues in the election campaign. Opponents of new negotiations warned that future membership could limit Iceland’s ability to make its own decisions regarding fish stocks and fishing quotas.
The issue is historically sensitive. Iceland began negotiating EU membership in 2009 following the financial crisis, but Politico notes that disagreements over issues such as fishing quotas contributed to the previous process stalling.
Young voters shifted toward the "no" vote
According to opinion polls reported by RÚV, there was also a significant shift among young people before the election. In June, 37 percent of voters between the ages of 18 and 29 said they were leaning toward a “no” vote, while by the end of August that figure had risen to 60 percent.
Political scientist Hafsteinn Birgir Einarsson said that the trend suggested the “no” campaign had succeeded in reaching young voters during the final stages of the election campaign. At the same time, the results show that opposition was not limited to older or rural groups.
Iceland Will Continue Cooperation—But Not on the Path to Membership
Iceland is not leaving European cooperation. The country is already part of the EEA and the Schengen Area and thus engages in extensive economic and practical cooperation with the EU without being a member.
But there will be no new accession process at this time. Following the referendum, the government lacks the mandate to resume negotiations, while Iceland retains national control over the issues that were at the heart of the “no” campaign.
NUMBERS – THE REFERENDUM
No: 52.8 percent
Yes: 47.2 percent
Voter Turnout: 82.5 percent
Voters: 225 031
That's why all you smart Vikings moved! It's great that they're free of all that EU crap!
Agree
GO ISLAND!.
Here in unstable Sweden, we have the entire 8-party coalition that’s best friends with :-( EuropeanDoom.
SWEXIT! SWEXIT! SWEXIT!
It was very wise of them not to get dragged into the EU's war alliance and its corrupt leader, Ursula
Iceland did the right thing—they rejected EU dictatorship. Now it's time for SWEXIT, too.
Agree
Iceland is awesome!!!
What if our politicians in Sweden had been just as wise????
Congratulations, Iceland. You want to be a sovereign nation. With the EU, you would NOT have been one. My country, Sweden, willingly accepts laws enacted within the EU that we must follow. Our farmers, who want to continue farming but are forced to shut down their operations because of EU laws.
Sweden does NOT medicate its cows and other animals the way it is done in the EU. And this fact will make us sicker and sicker. The EU does NOT want any costly retirees living in its countries.