Iceland’s anti-establishment Pirate Party has failed to make the gains predicted by opinion polls in the country’s general election.

Despite its share of the vote tripling since the last election in 2013, it was third, with 15%.

But its leader, Birgitta Jonsdottir, said she was satisfied with the result.

"Our internal predictions showed 10 to 15%, so this is at the top of the range. We knew that we would never get 30%," she said.

The Pirate Party could still have a role to play in a new coalition government because no party won an overall majority.


In fact, the biggest party in the previous coalition government, the Progressive Party, lost more than half its share of the vote.

Current Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson, who chairs the Progressive Party, has resigned.

It means the current centre-right coalition has effectively been ousted.

Speaking at a news conference in Reykjavik, Mr Johannsson said: "This was in accordance with the constitution, to hand in my resignation and then be asked to stay in office until a new government has been formed."

Image: Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson has resigned

The Independence Party came out on top, with 29% of the vote.

The centre-right party's leader, and Iceland's current finance minister, Bjarni Benediktsson, said his group would try to form a new administration.

Without specifying particular partners, Mr Benediktsson said he would prefer a three-party coalition.

There is speculation that a green liberal party, Vidreisn, which was only formed in May, could have a part to play, after taking about 10% of votes.

The Pirate Party, meanwhile, said it would not link up with the Independence Party.

Rather, it would work on a five-party grouping with Vidreisn and three others.

The Left-Green Movement, which came second in the election, said it was happy to consider such an arrangement.