Iceland

Parliament

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Parliamentary mandate

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
When the election results are declared
Start of the parliamentary mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
End of the parliamentary mandate
On the day of new elections

Speaker

Mode of designation of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected from among the members of parliament/chamber
Authority that designates the Speaker when the Speaker is designated from outside parliament.
Not applicable
Rank of the Speaker in the hierarchy of the State
Other

Notes: If the office of President of the Republic becomes vacant or if the President is unable to perform his duties due to a stay abroad, illness, or other reasons, the Prime Minister, the President of Althingi and the President of the Supreme Court shall exercise Presidential authority. The President of Althingi shall preside at their meetings and if there is a divergence of opinion among them, the majority shall prevail.

Sources: Constitution, art. 8

Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity
Yes
Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures
Yes

Notes: The mandate continues, provided that the outgoing Speaker is seeking re-election in the general election. If not, his/her term ends on election day. In such cases, one of the Deputy Speakers* who is seeking re-election in the general election will become the Acting Speaker until the new legislature elects a new official Speaker (*First, Second or Third, in descending order).

Speaker terms

The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house
No
Speaker's term
4 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any
No information available

Immunity and code of conduct

Parliament’s authorization is required for the detention or prosecution of members
Yes, except for flagrant delicto

Notes: In cases of flagrant delicto the parliament does not intervene and no action from parliament is needed in order for a case against a member to proceed.

There is a Code of conduct for members
Yes

Salaries and allowances

Members are paid salaries by parliament
Click for historical data
Basic salary, per year
16,348,824 ISK
(2023)
Basic salary, per year in PPP
114,520
(2023)
Basic allowances
Click for historical data
Basic allowance in PPP
5,793
Names of the basic allowances

Annual fixed travel expenses and miscellaneous job expenses.

Members pay income tax on salaries
Yes
Members pay income tax on allowances
Yes
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament
Yes
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament
No
Salary of the Speaker
14,814,587 ISK
Salary of the Speaker in PPP
102,162
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale
Yes
Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries
Civil service salary scale
Year data was last reported

2020

Facilities, services and allowances for constituency work
Personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian
Yes
Office at parliament
Yes
Constituency office
No
Housing
No
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work
Yes

Notes:

Housing allowance for MPs from rural constituencies; travel allowance for rural MPs who travel between residence and the parliament; meeting allowance for travel to meetings in other constituencies.

Some allowances are subject to income tax while others are not.

Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Additional salaries and allowances provided for leadership positions
Yes

Notes:

The additional amount received to the basic annual salary:

Speaker: 9,249,108 ISK

Deputy Speakers, parliamentary group chairpersons: 2,107,020 ISK

Political Party Chairperson: 7,023,420 ISK

First Deputy Committee Chair: 1,404,684 ISK

Second Deputy Committee Chair: 702,336 ISK

List of salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Salary Allowances
Speaker Yes
Committee Chair Yes

Participation in the government

Members of the government must also be members of parliament
Can be a member of parliament
Number of members of the parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
12
(2021)
Members for whom data is available
63
(2021)
Percentage of members of parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
19.0%
(2021-09 - 2021-12)

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No