Iceland steers towards the EU

The Social Democrats in Iceland are vowing to push for EU membership and the adoption of the euro currency after their historic election victory.

Caretaker Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir is expected to retain a coalition with the Left-Green Party, which has been running the country since the fall of a conservative government three months ago.

Sigurdardottir is aiming to hold a referendum on EU membership, but will have to find a compromise with the Left-Greens over their concerns about the impact of joining the bloc.

One man in the country’s capital said: “I have never supported any of these parties before. I did yesterday, so I’m very happy that we’re actually on the road now to the European Union.”

Another man said: “Everything has just crumbled here and change is what we need, and it’s what we have got to have, otherwise we are all going to be bankrupt.”

Elections were brought forward from 2011 when demonstrations over the impact of the financial crisis brought down the previous administration.

Copyright © 2009 euronews

tags: Elections, Iceland, Politics