A recount of Iceland’s parliamentary election has caused upset after it dashed hopes of a landmark victory for female lawmakers.
Initial vote counts revealed that female candidates were elected to 33-seats in Iceland’s national parliament, making up 52% of the total seat count.
“In a historical and international light, the most significant news is that women are now first time in majority in the Icelandic parliament, and a first in Europe,” President Gudni Johannesson told broadcaster RUV. “This is good news.”
However, the cause for celebration was soon diminished.
Hours later, a partial recount was called after concerns were raised over the number of ballots submitted. The recount revealed that in fact only 30-seats were won by female candidates, reflecting almost 48% of parliament.
Human error was apparently the cause of the confusion.
AFP: #Iceland believed briefly Sunday it had become the first country in #Europe to have a #women_majority_parliament after its election a day earlier, but a #recount showed it fell short, an election official told AFP. pic.twitter.com/KJhGZVOmWt
— Usama Farag (@VOAFarag) September 26, 2021
The recounted figures still cement Iceland as the European nation that is closest to a female-majority parliament. Following close behind is Sweden, with 47% female politicians.
Currently, no European nation has reached 50% gender parity.
Rwanda leads the world with women making up 61% of elected positions. This is followed by Cuba, Mexico and Nicaragua all reporting gender parity at or above 50%.
In relative terms, Australia has just under 38% of women holding parliament positions.
Iceland has a decorated history of equal and fair treatment of female lawmakers. They have been identified by a World Economic Forum survey as the most gender-equal country in the world for twelve years running.
In 1980, Iceland became the first country in the world to elect a female president.
This morning #Iceland was the first parliament in Europe to have more women than men elected. Then they did a recount. Ah well, as you were. #Icelandvotes pic.twitter.com/iwLNwTZK1y
— 𝕃𝕚𝕝𝕛𝕒 Sigurðardóttir (@lilja1972) September 26, 2021
The North Atlantic nation missed out on another landmark election result when it overturned the victory of 21-year-old female candidate Lenya Run Karim. Ms Karim would have been the youngest politician ever to be elected in Iceland.
“These were a good nine hours,” Ms Karim remarked on the situation.
