Is Iceland Developing Into a Semi-Presidential System?

The financial crisis that hit Iceland in 2008 has affected its political system in some fundamental ways. One significant change is the more assertive role of the president in Icelandic politics. Until recently political actors adhered to the principle of majoritarian parliamentarism, which taught that the majority controls the legislative agenda, decides who holds ministerial posts and determines public policy. As a result the scope of presidential power was limited and presidents were regarded as mere figureheads. Now, however, the presidency has emerged as a check on the parliamentary majority. To put it differently, the president has been recast as the people´s watchdog over parliament because he now decides what legislation stands or is tested by a referendum. The changes, outlined in the paper, were not the result of changes in the text of the constitution. Rather they have their roots in the political game that produced a reinterpretation of the role of the president. The new interpretation enjoys public support and reflects the erosion of trust in parliament and politicians in the post crisis period. The new and more assertive role of the president in Icelandic politics raises the question of whether Iceland is moving toward semi-presidentialism and away from its long standing tradition of majoritarian parliamentarism. This question and the implications for parliamentary politics are the central themes of the paper.