Another young politician could take up the reins of government as Icelandic voters backed a left-leaning four-party coalition in a parliamentary election.

Despite it being unclear who will get a mandate to form the next government, the coalition led by 41-year-old Katrin Jakobsdottir of the Left-Green Movement is close to getting in power.

The coalition, which is also made up of the Social Democrats, the Progressive Party and the Pirate Party, won 32 of the 63 seats up for grabs, according to polls published by state broadcaster RUV.

It is the smallest possible majority, meaning Iceland could now join New Zealand in electing a young, female, left-wing leader of the Left-Green Movement.

Image: Katrin Jakobsdottir's coalition won 32 of the 63 seats

Despite incumbent Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson's Independence Party remaining the largest party in the chamber, it only managed a quarter of the votes in a blow to the party.


The result from Saturday's election - the third poll in four years - could lead to the ousting of his centre-right government.

Iceland's president usually gives the mandate to the head of the biggest party but President Gudni Johannesson has not yet done so.

Image: Bjarni Benediktsson with former leader Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson

The election was the second in little more than a year as a slew of corruption-related scandals hit the nation of 334,000.

It was called in September by standing Mr Benediktsson after the government collapsed when a junior cabinet member resigned. It had emerged that his father had written a letter of recommendation for a convicted paedophile.

The previous government had fallen apart in April 2016, when the Panama papers revealed prime minister Sigmunder David Gunnlaugsson and his wife had set up a company in the British Virgin Islands.

The ensuing outrage, manifested in crowds gathering at parliament to hurl fish and yogurt, culminated in his standing down and snap elections being called.