Iceland’s Citizen Constitution: the Window Remains Wide Open

Historical evidence suggests that, with few exceptions, it takes a crisis to write or revise a country’s constitution. Iceland fits the pattern.

In 2016 Iceland’s crisis is now deeper than ever before. With the Panama Papers revelations the Icelandic people now see what the chief opponents of constitutional reform have been up to, their demand for their Parliament’s ratification of the new constitution seems likely to intensify. A brand new post-Panama opinion poll taken by Iceland’s largest newspaper, Fréttablaðið, suggests that the government parties´ support has shrunk from 51% in the 2013 election to 30% today while the largest opposition party, the Pirates, whose chief policy aim is to ratify the new constitution, has seen its support rise from 5% in 2013 to 43% today.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Iceland votes for citizen assembly to draft new constitution http://www.europeansources.info/record/iceland-votes-for-citizen-assembly-to-draft-new-constitution/

ESO: Background information: With Pirates on the horizon, Iceland’s government may not survive the Panama Papers http://www.europeansources.info/record/with-pirates-on-the-horizon-icelands-government-may-not-survive-the-panama-papers/

Iceland Review, 03.05.16: Offshore Revelations ‘Have Damaged Icelanders' Reputation’ http://icelandreview.com/news/2016/05/03/offshore-revelations-have-damaged-icelanders-reputation

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