Immigrant Politics in Iceland [Innflytjendapólitík á Íslandi]

Manifesto

True democracy is often uncomfortable for ruling elites because it naturally destabilizes the entrenched hierarchies they have spent decades building.

Icelandic politics is currently stifled by monopolies of power on both the right and the left, and we desperately need systemic reform, including lowering the electoral threshold and the expansion of voting and civil rights for immigrants, a reform we regard as both urgent and necessary to allow a true plurality of voices to take part in the debate. A vibrant political community should be defined by its ability to imagine a different future, rather than remaining calcified in old norms and the protection of historical privileges. For a country that prides itself so much on its art, we could certainly afford a little more political imagination.

It seems many are terrified by the slight prospect of change and the loss of their monopoly over power. However, we must recognize that low voter turnout among immigrants is not a sign of apathy, but the consequences of a system where they see no one truly representing their interests, neither in the unabashed conservatism of the right nor the unauthentic
neoliberal "progressivism" of the left. This is an imposed condition of alienation that both sides of the aisle have benefited from for far too long.

Both sides currently seem to follow the same governing rationale famously described by Getúlio Vargas: "´To my friends, everything; to my enemies, the law!"

Authentic immigrant voices are more necessary than ever, but space is rarely granted freely. If we are finally invited to the table, it is often on someone else's terms; our opinions are filtered until we become a mere buffer between the elite and the disgruntled immigrant worker, an unpleasant smoke and mirrors act for both sides. We deserve better
than to be used as tools in a political game that we are not permitted to play on our own terms.

Ultimately, the most authentic representation for the dispossessed, marginalized and for all those who have fallen through the cracks of factions in society, can only come from those people themselves.

Mission

Welcome to Immigrant Politics in Iceland [Innflytjendapólitík á Íslandi].
The vision for this group transcends the limitations of our current political system, our goal is to expand and forge alliances across all sectors of society.
We believe politics must be re-imagined from the vantage point of the worst-off in our society, starting from a place of empathy and care.
If a reliable and competent individual from any political force, trade union, grassroots movement, or civil society is willing to help advance this project, we will not reject their wealth of knowledge based on previous or current affiliations within Icelandic society and its many factions.
After all, this is an assembly for immigrants and Icelanders alike who have fallen through the cracks of the many factions in Icelandic society.
If we sit at the table with others, it is because we want to know how they can help advance the interests of an autonomous, immigrant-run party as a force in Icelandic politics.
We believe in coalition building, yes. But ultimately, we believe in autonomy and our right to assert ourselves as a space free co-dependence and inconsequential policy decisions.

Past or current points of contention should be lessons to be learned, they must not create hindrances or dictate the process of our emancipatory project.
That said, we vehemently reject frændhygli (nepotism) in Icelandic politics, paternalism, clientelism, patronage, elite capture and performances of martydom for the poor.

We demand a proportional seat at the table.

Political Platform 2026

IMMIGRANT POLITICS AND DISABILITY
The goal is to constructively discuss issues that affect both the disability/special needs community and immigrants in Iceland by creating a working group.
This is a strategic necessity. A common talking point among opposing political parties is the claim that "more funding for immigrants means less funding for the elderly and disabled". We often realize that those making this argument rarely advocated for the disabled or elderly before; they simply use these groups as a wedge to score political gains.
Instead, we are bringing these groups together to dialogue, find common ground, and articulate what we really want in terms of governance. Just as immigrants must be involved in the entire policy cycle, from problem identification to implementation and evaluation, so too must people with disabilities.

We believe disability, in some shape or form, is a universal human experience. Everyone is, or will eventually be, disabled in one way or another; indeed, the ultimate vulnerability in life is our mortality. Maybe death can be thought as the last form of disability. But until then, we must do everything within our reach to build a just, fair, equal and prosperous society.

Our struggle is for a community where immigrants and people with disabilities are not only "seen" and "considered", but received as epistemic equals, decision-makers, and leaders.
Please, get in touch if you would like to join these groups or have an idea for the creation of other groups.

EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE
Iceland’s education and childcare systems should move toward community-led decision making that centres equity and lived experience. Families, including those from immigrant backgrounds, must have a real say in shaping the institutions that serve them. This requires dismantling exclusionary and racialised structures and building a culture of accountability within public institutions that support the communities they serve.We all pay taxes, and that investment should be visible in how children and families are supported through education, language learning, and well-being. Real integration of the immigrant community begins when they are genuinely invested in.

HOUSING
Can a refurbished garage or stable constitute an acceptable standard of living in one of the world’s wealthiest nations?
The ongoing housing crisis is failing too many, forcing countless people into inadequate and precarious conditions. To confront this, we would like to advance a comprehensive Housing Policy reform structured around four key priorities.

First, we must reexamine how urban land is allocated to more effectively reduce housing waiting lists.
Second, we will fight for robust oversight mechanisms to guarantee that all rental properties meet fundamental health and safety standards.
Third, new measures should discourage property owners from keeping homes vacant.
Finally, we will suggest a transparent public registry of residential property ownership, encompassing both local and international corporate holdings.

It is time to ensure that housing policy serves the public good and secures a dignified standard of living for all.

#CityCouncil #ImmigrantRights #Reykjavik #PoliticalPlatform2026 #housing

CRIME STATS POLICY
How do we actually "demystify" crime stats regarding citizenship and background?
Based on research on policing in the Nordics and experiences of people with darker phenotype with the Icelandic law enforcement, we would like to propose the following policy:
We need to look at the context behind the numbers. If we want a fair picture of safety and security in Iceland, We propose we ask for data that goes deeper than just a person’s origin. Are unruly young people in 101 or Garðabær getting a "warning and a ride home", while those in Breiðholt end up on the police booking system (Löke)?
Are arrest rates higher in certain zip codes simply because that’s where the patrols are concentrated? We hear about the kids selling on the corner, but what about the wealthy "party drug" market in the high-end districts? Why are there no raids there?
Crime stats without context are just noise and fear-mongering. We need to see where the "warnings" happen versus where the handcuffs and solitary confinement actually come out. Let’s talk about impact, not just headlines.
This is a core policy for our first immigrant-run party.
#policing #stopandsearch #HumanRightsViolations

COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES and ECOSYSTEMS FOR PROFIT
We would like to propose a mapping of the facilities used for cryptocurrency farming and data mining across the city.
This would include an estimation of total energy consumption, the amount of tax revenue collected, and a detailed list of the companies involved, including their specific locations.
Unfortunately, We do not believe this and other policies will ever been introduced by other political parties with strings attached.
This transparency is an administrative prerequisite for tax justice.
By establishing a granular database of energy consumption and resource diversion, we can move toward a model of "Fair Use Fees". This ensures that high-impact industries contribute proportionally to the infrastructure they rely on, rather than operating behind the "strings attached" to traditional political shielding.
Furthermore, this initiative addresses a growing local frustration regarding the selective enforcement of environmental standards from carbon sequestration to green bonds. While data centers represent a modern strain on resources, they are part of a wider pattern of exploitation that includes:

Privatization of Water: e.g., the extraction and private sale of glacial water under government sanction.
Industrial Price-Setting: Large-scale energy consumers, such as aluminum smelters, who maintain an outsized influence on national electricity pricing.
Infrastructure Neglect: The glaring contradiction between high-tech "green" initiatives (like carbon sequestration) and the lack of basic sewage treatment facilities that protect our coastal ecosystems.

By centering an immigrant-led initiative on these issues, we challenge the status quo from an outsider perspective, one that is unburdened by the legacy agreements of established political parties and deeply inspired by the lived experiences of those who see the gaps between the nation's green and sustainable reputation and its industrial reality.
#environment #greenpolitics #neocolianism #extraction

INTERSECTIONAL EQUAL PAY & SOCIAL EQUITY
We would like to move beyond the binary "men vs. women", and towards a greater understanding of the labor market. To do so, our platform will propose an Intersectional Equal Pay Framework.
We would recognize that gender pay gaps do not exist in a vacuum, they are compounded by class, nationality, residency status, and social standing.
In the current Icelandic labor market, social hierarchies often create tiers of precarity. While a gender gap exists between local men and women, a foreign man may face significantly higher levels of precarity and lower wages than a local woman due to systemic barriers, language requirements, and the added layer of being
an immigrant. The same applies for the foreign women.
Additionally, it could be the cause that the current system allows for the targeted exploitation of foreign workers and also international students.
We would like to update Equal Pay Certification standards to explicitly audit wage gaps across backgrounds and residency status. We must ensure that a migration background is never used as a proxy for lower pay or reduced benefits.
We will also advocate for expanded labor rights that recognize the unique pressures of the migrant experience such as cross-border caregiving (statutory paid leave to attend to sick relatives abroad). Legal safeguards and streamlined processes for workers to change employers without losing residency status, breaking the cycle of dependency.
I would also like to suggest that our platform must acknowledge the pyramid of social and economic precarity. While the Icelandic man may often sit at the top, the hierarchy continues through Icelandic women, then perhaps some foreign men, down to women of foreign origin at the base. Our policy would seek to protecting the most precarious workers in low-tier sectors, and strengthening the collective bargaining power of the entire workforce. But also this policy could serve to dismantle
hierarchies, transitioning from a system of competition between demographics to one of universal social protection for all.
In order to move towards true equality, we need to address the intersectional aspects of gender, residency, and class. We must create an environment where the doors are open, support is guaranteed, and no worker, regardless of their origin, is left to navigate the added layer of being an immigrant alone.

#work #equalpay #immigrantlife #equalpay #immigrantlife #genderequality #class

EU MEMBERSHIP
There is a lack of substantial debate regarding the practical implications of EU membership for the average citizen.
Most political parties, on both the left and the right, seem to act as if interest groups and resource sovereignty are the only factors worth considering. Our position is that the debate should be guided by the nuances, details and implications of EU membership for those worst-off in society. Some of the things to consider are Individual Rights & Justice, Economic Stability and Security.

Rules of Engagement

l. Respectful Engagement
All members must respect diverse political and cultural ideas and people. Constructive and respectful dialogue is encouraged to enrich the group's discussions.

II. No Vote or Candidate Poaching
Group members are prohibited from poaching votes or candidates for other parties. This group is dedicated to our specific mission and objectives.

III. Confidentiality Respect
Information shared within the group must remain confidential. Sharing or discussing private group information outside the group is prohibited.

IV. No Screen Captures
Screen captures of conversations or any other content within the group are not allowed. This is to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of discussions.

V. Zero Tolerance for Discrimination and Hate
Discrimination or hate speech against any individual or group will not be tolerated. Offenders will be suspended and reported to relevant authorities.

VI. No Cyberbullying
Any form of cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation will result in immediate removal from the group. Such activities will also be reported to relevant authorities.

VII. Constructive Criticism Only
Any criticism should be constructive and relevant to the topic. Do not send messages to strangers. Personal attacks, trolling, and off-topic comments will not be allowed.

VIII. Accurate Information Only
Members should only share accurate and truthful information. Misinformation, especially concerning voting or political processes, will lead to immediate action.

IX. Respect for Admins/Moderators
Do not block admin and moderators. Decisions made by the admins and moderators are final. Group members must respect their guidance to uphold the community standards.

X. Participation and Collaboration
Members are encouraged to actively participate and collaborate. Contributions should align with the group's goals and community spirit.

XI. Reporting Violations
Members should report any violations of the group rules to moderators promptly.

XII. Data collection
It is prohibited to collect data for research or any other purposes without prior consent.