Ingibjörg Isaksen Contemplates Presidential Run Amidst Party Dynamics
Ingibjörg Isaksen, parliamentary party chairman of the Progressive Party and head of the North East constituency, has left the door open on a potential run for the party’s presidency. She told media recently that people around her have been pushing her to throw her hat in the ring.
The speculation kicked off this autumn when Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson announced he would not seek re-election. Since then, both Lilja Alfredsdóttir and Willum Þór Þórsson have been reported as weighing up their options. Asked directly about her own ambitions, Isaksen said she is still thinking it over.
“I haven’t made a final decision yet, as there’s still some time until the party congress in mid-February,” she stated. “Right now, though, there are vital conversations happening at the grassroots level. We’re exploring various possibilities, and I truly hope we can reach a successful outcome as we consider what’s best for our progress.”
A Distinct Stance on Immigration Policy
Immigration came up in the same conversation, and Isaksen was clear that the Progressive Party intends to handle the issue with compassion.
Asked whether she thinks her party is drifting toward the Central Party’s positions — given the latter’s recent surge in the polls — Isaksen pushed back firmly.
“They are increasingly distancing themselves from our principles,” she remarked. “We see this as an opportunity. The Independence Party and the Central Party have drawn nearer to each other in recent years, but we cannot support that direction, especially concerning immigration policies.”
Whatever she decides about her own candidacy, Isaksen is making it plain that the Progressive Party’s approach to social issues is not up for renegotiation.
