Iceland government split

The inestimable EU News from Iceland brings us yet another piece of happy sad news from Iceland. One of the goverment coalitions parties, the Left-Greens have reverted to their usual stance on the EU and are now opposing Iceland's membership.

The Left Greens have since the foundation of the party been opposed to joining the EU but decided not to oppose an application being sent to Brussels after the general election in the spring of 2009 in order to form a government with the pro-EU Social Democratic Alliance. Since opposition to the joining the EU has grown rapidly among Icelanders with about two thirds against the move according to the latest polls. The EU application, which was only narrowly approved in the Icelandic parliament in July 2009, has also been very unpopular within the LGM. The party council is the highest authority of the LGM between national congresses.

What with the forthcoming referendum on the whole IceSave saga and general dissatisfaction with the EU's and certain member states' behaviour (Britain being one of them), there seems a fair chance that Iceland will escape the trap.