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Iceland Page |
Welcome to ElectionInfo.com's pages on Iceland
Official Name: Republic of Iceland
Capital: Reykjavík
Area: 103,000 square kilometres ( 39,769 square miles )
Major cities (Population)
Reykjavík 96,700 (1989 estimate)
Kópavogur 15,900 (1989 estimate)
Population: 269,000 (1995 estimate)
Population growth rate: 1.1 per cent (1990-1995 average)
Type of government: Republic
Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Voting Rights: Universal at age 18
Government
The president, who is directly elected for a four-year term, is the head of state and appoints the prime minister and cabinet, who have executive power. The national assembly, called the Althing, has 63 members who are elected to serve four-year terms by a form of proportional representation. The voting age is 18.
Recent History
Since the Republic of Iceland was declared in 1944, all governments have been coalitions, many of them short-lived. There has been a high degree of political cooperation that has helped build a strong economy—Icelanders enjoy one of the highest standards of living in Europe. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the world’s first popularly elected female head of state, served as president of Iceland from 1980 to 1996, when she retired and was replaced by Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.
The Icelandic government is involved in a geopolitical issue over Rockall Island with Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Ireland and the United Kingdom have signed a border agreement over the area.
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