The Independence Party’s National conference begins today
About 2,100 people have the right to attend the meeting this weekend in Laugardalshöll. Morgunblaðið/Ómar
The 45th Independence Party National Conference begins today. The actual meeting will begin with meetings of the issue committees at 10:00 in both Laugardalshöll, where registration of delegates to the National Conference will take place, and in Valhöll.
Bjarni Benediktsson, the outgoing chairman of the party, will give his opening speech in Laugardalshöll at 16:30 and all Independents are welcome, but otherwise the meeting is only open to delegates to the National Conference.
Valhöll. mbl.is/Kristinn
The most anticipated election is probably the chairmanship election on Sunday, which begins at 11:30. Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir and Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir have filed their candidacies there.
Two polls, different results
Two polls on the support and popularity of candidates for chairmanship in the Independence Party were published last Wednesday. Both were conducted by Gallup.
According to the results of the second survey, more people say they would vote for the Independence Party if Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir becomes its chairman. In the second survey, Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir enjoys more support among the party's supporters than her rival.
Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir. mbl.is/María Matthíasdóttir
The former survey was reported on the Icelandic National Broadcasting Corporation, RÚV. It says that it was conducted for independents in Hrunamannahreppur who have declared their support for Hafsteinsdóttir. The media outlet's coverage says that 52.5 percent of those who took a position said that Hafsteinsdóttir was more likely to increase the party's support, while 43.4 percent mentioned Sigurbjörnsdóttir.
The results of the survey also indicate that Sigurbjörnsdóttir enjoys more support in younger age groups, 49 years and younger, than Hafsteinsdóttir in older groups.
Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir. Morgunblaðið/Brynjólfur
The latter survey was conducted by Gallup for Viðskiptablaðið. Its results show that Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir enjoys the support of 50% of the Independence Party's supporters for the leadership of the party, while Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir enjoys the support of 48%.
The same is true in this survey as in the other: Sigurbjörnsdóttir has much more support in younger age groups and Hafsteinsdóttir in older ones, especially among those aged 70 and over.
A new chairman of the Independence Party will be elected at the party's national conference next weekend.
