Iceland’s conservative prime minister came out on top in a snap election despite a string of scandals, final results confirmed Sunday, but it remained unclear whether he will be able to form a viable coalition.
PM Bjarni Benediktsson, 47, was accused named last year in the “Panama Papers” worldwide tax-evasion leaks. He has also been accused of wrongdoing during Iceland's financial collapse in 2008.
His Independence Party, however, beat its rivals in yesterday's election, according to final results published today, although no party came near to winning a majority in parliament. The Independence Party won 16 seats in the 63-seat parliament. Turnout was 81 per cent. It could now take days, weeks or even months before Iceland has a new Government in place as thorny coalition negotiations await.
Benediktsson’s challenge comes from the left Green Movement and its potential allies, the Social Democratic Alliance and the anti-establishment Pirate Party. The left-Green Movement came in second with 11 seats, the Social Democratic Alliance with seven seats, and the Pirates with six seats.