About the Independence Party
The Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) was founded on 25 May 1929, the result of a merger between the Conservative Party (Íhaldsflokkurinn) and the Liberal Party (Frjálslyndi flokkurinn).
The Chairman of the party is Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir former Minister of Justice.
The Independence Party is a liberal-conservative political party in Iceland. It is currently the second largest party in the Icelandic parliament (Alþingi), with 14 seats. Since its formation in 1929, the party has won the largest share of the vote in every general election except 2009 and 2024. Every former Independence Party leader has also at some point held the office of Prime Minister. The current party chairman, elected in 2025, is the leader of the opposition. Between 2013 and 2024, there were three different coalition governments in Iceland, all of which included the Independence Party. The party has been a partner in 25 of the 35 governments elected since Iceland became a republic in 1944. The party currently has 113 elected councillors in 35 municipalities and forms a majority in 24 of them.
The Independence Party participates in the Nordic cooperation of sister parties and is a participant in the group of Conservative parties in the Nordic countries. The party has also been a member of IDU for years and in addition is a full member of EPP in Europe.
The first leader of the party was Jón Þorláksson (1929–34). He was followed by:
- Ólafur Thors (1934–61)
- Bjarni Benediktsson (1961–1970)
- Jóhann Hafstein (1970–73)
- Geir Hallgrímsson (1973–83)
- Þorsteinn Pálsson (1983–91)
- Davíð Oddsson (1991–2005)
- Geir H. Haarde (2005–09)
- Bjarni Benediktsson (2009–2025).
- Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir (2025-date)
Contact
Email: xd@xd.is
Telephone: +354 515 1700
Office staff
General Secretary: Björg Ásta Þórðardóttir
Deputy General Secretary: Sigurbjörn Ingimundarson – sigurbjorni@xd.is
Corporate Information Officer: Ingvar P. Guðbjörnsson – ingvarp@xd.is
Party Conference Manager: Lilja Birgisdóttir – lilja@xd.is
Head of the Reykjavik City Council Independence Party Group: Marijón Ósk Nóadóttir – marijon@xd.is
Head of Vörður (council of representatives of Independence Party associations in Reykjavik): Jón Birgir Eiríksson – jonb@xd.is
Leadership
Chairman: Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir
Deputy Chairman: Jens Garðar Helgason
Secretary: Vilhjálmur Árnason
Charmain of the Parliamentary Group: Hildur Sverrisdóttir
Political resolution of the 45th party conference (2025)
Translation is in process.
