GENERAL
Snap elections lead to a coalition of parties all headed by women
On 30th November 2024, snap parliamentary elections were organised following the end of the coalition between the Independence Party, the Progressive Party, and the Left-Green Movement caused by disagreements over immigration, energy policy, and the cost-of-living crisis. The total turnout was 80.2 percent. For the first time, turnout figures have been published regarding kynsegin, people who do not identify solely as male or female.
The Social Democratic Alliance won 15 seats, up from six seats in 2021. The Independence Party won 14 seats, down from 16. The Social Democratic Alliance formed a coalition government with the Liberal Reform Party and the People’s Party. The coalition jointly holds 36 seats out of the 63. It is the first time that all governing parties in Iceland are headed by women. It is also the first time that the country has a female prime minister and a female president simultaneously.
On 21st December 2024, Ms. Frostadóttir became the youngest ever Prime Minister of Iceland. The coalition announced its efforts to cut inflation rates and to reach carbon-neutrality by 2040 and to engage in foreign policy based on human rights, peace and respect for international law. A national referendum on Iceland’s membership of the European Union will be held no later than 2027.
Seat at Human Rights Council with emphasis on safeguarding the international system
On 1st January 2025, Iceland joined the UN Human Rights Council along with 17 other states.
On 24th February 2025, Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir delivered an address to the 58th session of the Human Rights Council emphasising the need to safeguard the United Nations and the international system established after World War II. She criticised Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli warfare in Gaza for months following the Hamas terrorist attack on 7th October 2023.
For me, the starting point is a simple truth: no person should have to live in fear of persecution and violence. This continues to apply if the persecution is based on a person´s sexual orientation or gender identity. And we will not hesitate to stand up on their behalf here in this venue, amplifying the voices of those who fight for their rights
- Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland
An overview of Iceland's key priorities can be found here and on this website dedicated to Iceland’s membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
EXPRESSION
Iceland is ranked 17th out of 180 countries in the RSF index. According to the organisation, the threats posed to the generally well protected media come from the market’s small size and political and economic interests, especially from the fishing industry.
Regarding freedom of expression, the observations made by the UN Human Rights Committee in November 2024 included:
- Ensuring that investigative journalists can carry out their activities without fear that they will face legal harassment and smear campaigns and to promptly investigate and prosecute allegations of intimidation, harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists and human rights defenders, including those working on anti‑corruption or other issues of public interest.
- Ensuring that defamation offences are narrowly and clearly defined in the Penal Code and restrict their application to the most serious defamation cases.
ASSEMBLY
European Court rules in favour of State in freedom of assembly case
On 27th May 2025, the European Court of Human Rights found no violation of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in the case of Kári Orrason and Others v. Iceland. The case involved three people who participated in a demonstration concerning asylum seekers in April 2019 at the Icelandic Ministry of Justice. The protesters entered the lobby of the building and, at 4pm, when the building was closing, they refused to leave when ordered to do so by the police. They were then arrested and convicted of refusing to obey police orders under the Police Act. The Court is of the opinion that these convictions were an interference with their right to freedom of assembly but that it was not disproportionate.
Pro-Palestinian protests
According to data collected by ACLED, multiple pro-Palestinian protests took place in Reykjavik: On 7th December 2024, to raise awareness about the number of journalists killed in Gaza, and on 9th December 2024 to draw attention to civilian casualties in Palestine. On 17th May 2025, up to 2000 people marched in the capital.
Some actions were dedicated to urge the newly formed government to step up efforts to ensure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza or to oppose perceived insufficient actions: on 22nd March 2025 in Akureyri, and on 25th March and 21st May 2025 in Reykjavik.
Protest over deportation of minor
On 22nd April, 2nd May and 26th May 2025, the No Borders Iceland movement organised demonstrations to oppose the planned deportation of a minor to Colombia. The activists claimed that the minor would be in imminent danger if deported and demanded that he be granted a residence permit. On 2nd June 2025, it was announced that the forced removal from Iceland of the 17-year-old minor would be postponed due to the sensitive circumstances of his case.