Last week saw the emergence of a new party on the Icelandic political scene – in the form of the right-wing, nationalist, pro-Christian, anti-multiculturalism Iceland National Front (‘Íslenska þjóðfylkingin’).
“The INF aims to defend Iceland’s sovereignty and independence and Icelandic national culture, language and customs,” reads a policy document issued by the new party.
“The party’s basic policies are: freedom of the individual, limited State interference, transparent, sustainable State governance, direct democracy, protection of nature, and peaceful and unhindered international trade.”
Specific INF policy objectives in foreign affairs include: Iceland’s continued membership of the UN, NATO, EFTA and Nordic cooperation, a review of Iceland’s participation in the EEA agreement with the EU, and complete opposition to membership of the EU and TiSA.
Furthermore, the party proposes “stricter border controls and much more stringent legislation on immigration”.
As regards home affairs, the INF would like to see far tougher law enforcement and coast-guard and customs operations, with Iceland – as a member of NATO – taking a greater role in its own national defence.
The party also wishes to adopt a new national currency pegged to the US dollar and clamp down on corruption and misconduct in the financial sector, with tougher rules on financial institutions.
“The INF supports the Christian faith and Christian values and attitudes, as these are closely connected with Icelandic national culture,” the document continues. The Old Norse ‘Ásatrú’ pagan religion also gets the green light, and the party pledges to respect freedom of religion as laid down in the Icelandic constitution.
Also on the party’s wish-list is a Swiss-style system of popular referenda and full national ownership of fish stocks and the national power company.
“The INF wholly opposes the building of mosques in Iceland […] and supports a ban on burkas, female circumcision for religious reasons and Islamist schools in Iceland,” reads the document, which will reportedly serve as a basis for the party’s pitch in next year’s general elections.
“The INF rejects the idea of multiculturalism in Iceland, but supports effective measures to enable those who settle here to assimilate.”
