Alexandra Briem Reflects on Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir’s Departure from the Pirates
In a move that caught many off guard, Dóra Björt Guðjónsdóttir has left the Pirates to join the Confederation. New party leader Alexandra Briem is not pretending it doesn’t sting. “Obviously, it’s a blow,” she said. “It’s never advantageous for a city governing party to lose a third of its strength.”
That said, Alexandra isn’t bitter about it. “People must follow their convictions and heed their consciences,” she said, wishing Dóra well and thanking her for eight years of working together. “I have enjoyed working with her immensely and hope to maintain that support, but this is certainly not how I envisioned things unfolding.”
She even managed a wry smile about the timing: “I’d be lying if I said this was at the top of the Christmas gift list.”
The departure lands at an already complicated moment for Alexandra. She recently lost the chairmanship to Guðrúnar Jón’s Oktavía Hrund, though she’s been clear about where she stands. “My initial focus was solely on the election outcomes. However, I realized I want to remain with the Pirates and dedicate my energy to our work in both the city council and the party.”
Looking to the next local government elections, Alexandra plans to stand as a candidate — either under the Pirates banner or as part of a joint left-wing candidacy. There have been whispers of potential alliances between the Left Green Party, the Pirates, and Sanna Magdalena, who announced her candidacy last weekend.
Oktavía Hrund also weighed in on Dóra’s departure via Facebook, acknowledging the difficulty of losing such a prominent party member but wishing her good fortune. She also congratulated Alexandra on assuming her new role.
Exploring Coalition Options
Sanna Magdalena’s recent announcement of a left-wing joint candidacy has prompted real conversation inside the Pirates about whether to get involved. Alexandra was measured about where things stand: “The only firm decision made is that we have been authorized by a social meeting to formally explore this possibility.” She stopped short of naming specific parties, saying the options first need to be properly assessed.
“We must determine if there is a viable basis for collaboration,” she said. If talks don’t lead anywhere, the Pirates are ready to go it alone. “I see myself as a candidate. I do not anticipate anything else,” she told Vísir.is, making clear she intends to be on the ballot — whether that’s as a Pirate or at the head of a broader left-wing ticket.
“Pirates embody a unique identity as a liberal democratic reform party. Given the evolving political landscape, both globally and locally, it’s vital for us to fill that gap in the political spectrum,” she said.
