Can explode at any time

It is unusual for the Independence Party to invite to a parliamentary party meeting with short notice, as was done yesterday. It shows that the tension between the government and the party has been increasing in the last few days, and it is natural for the party to meet and discuss the issues.

This is what Ólafur Þ says. Harðarson political scientist in conversation with mbl.is.

"He [Bjarni Benediktsson] is doing two things. On the one hand, he wants to have frank discussions within the parliamentary party of the Independence Party, where some members of parliament have wanted to break up immediately. Then he sends a message to the Left-Green Movement that the Independents are also ready to show determination."

A meeting called on short notice

The parliamentary party of the Independence Party gathered for a meeting in Valhöll yesterday afternoon. The meeting was called on short notice.

There has been dissatisfaction among the members of the Independence Party as a result of the fact that members of the Left-Green Movement do not want to do more in matters of immigration and energy.

Óli Björn Kárason and Jón Gunnarsson have said that the government's mission has come to an end because of this.

There is also dissatisfaction that Svandís Svavarsdóttir, the leader of the Left-Green Movement, should have announced publicly that she wanted the election to be held this spring, without having discussed it with the leaders of the other governing parties.

When the government was renewed this spring under the leadership of Benediktsson, it was said that the government's mission was to deal with economic issues, immigration issues, energy issues, and changes to the disability benefit system.

Put the cooperation in the parliament to the test

Asked how he envisions the next few days, Harðarson says it is likely that the Independence Party will test the government's cooperation in the parliament, to see if the Left-Green Movement keep their word and stop bills on, for example, immigration or energy.

"However, the tension and discontent has become such that it can explode at any moment."

He believes that it is most likely that the leaders of the governing parties will try to work together until after the end of the year, which could be more suitable for the parties.

"All the ruling parties do very poorly in opinion polls, and the leaders of the ruling parties are hoping that the economic situation will improve, and that could raise the support of the ruling parties a little."

He adds that if the chairman of the Independence Party, Bjarni Benediktsson, is thinking about moving on, the party would probably want to hold a national meeting and elect a new chairman before the elections are called.

It is almost impossible that the election will be held in a year

When asked, he says that it is almost impossible that elections will be held next fall.

"After Svavarsdóttir's statement, I think it is almost impossible elections will be this fall. Whether there would be elections soon after the end of the year, in March or April, even May or the end of June, is just an open question. If the administration can get through this turmoil that it is in at the moment."