In a referendum held on Saturday, Icelanders voted 'no' to restarting talks towards membership in the bloc after a campaign dominated by debates over the nation's sovereignty and independence.
It was 3:15 am in Iceland on Sunday, August 30, when the results of the referendum held the previous day tipped. While the "yes" camp had led from the start of the vote count five hours earlier, the "no" side moved ahead and widened the gap, ultimately securing 52.8% of the vote. The country of 400,000 people will therefore not resume negotiations with Brussels toward potentially joining the European Union (EU). Previous negotiations had begun in 2009 and were suspended six years later.
Recent polls showed both camps neck and neck in the weeks leading up to the vote, with a slight advantage for the "yes." The results suggest a strong turnout among opponents. They also reveal the extent of the divide between the pro-European capital, Reykjavik, and the residents of the country's four other electoral districts, who mostly voted against reopening talks.
The victory for the "no" camp is above all a win for the euroskeptic and conservative Independence Party and the influential fishing industry, which played a major role in the campaign. They argued that resuming talks with Brussels risked leading to Iceland losing sovereignty over its fishing sector, which accounts for 40% of its exports and 7% of its GDP.
You have 73.85% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
Subscribe now to read the full story. Sign in
