Viðreisn held the first entirely-digital party congress in Iceland on 25 September as it convened its members virtually and re-elected Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir as leader.

Conducted under the title “Tökum stór skref strax!” (‘Let’s take big steps now!’), the party moved its Congress to a digital format in the space of one week due to a recent spike in COVID cases, with members able to participate in the programme and vote online.

Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir was re-elected as the party leader and Daði Már Kristófersson, professor of economics and departing Dean of the University of Iceland School of Social Sciences, was elected as a new deputy leader. Elections were also held for the board and chairs of policy committees.

Members also voted on a political resolution in which they urge the Icelandic government to reconsider its policy regarding the economic impact of COVID-19 of minimal short-term measures instead of taking bold green investments that economists estimate would return a faster and more sustainable short term and long term growth.

In her speech following re-election, Mrs Gunnarsdóttir said: “A year from now, the Icelandic nation can choose to extend the life of a stagnated government or to form a government for the people, where the bedrock is the center of politics and the keystone is liberalism.“

Nicola Beer MEP, also Vice President of the European Parliament, delivered a video message to congress. 

You can read more and re-watch the Congress online at: https://vidreisn.is/landsthing-2020/

Þingflokkur ásamt nýkjörnum varaformanni Viðreisnar: Daða Má Kristóferssyni 🙏🏻 #stórskref pic.twitter.com/amKBJFWvDx

— Viðreisn (@vidreisn) September 25, 2020

Photo credit: Vidreisn