Policy statement

Reykjavík has all the potential to become a city of opportunity, where families, employment, education and individual freedom form a solid foundation for improved living standards. Reykjavík's distinctive character must be preserved, but care must be taken to ensure that the city develops in line with other Western cities – and does not fall behind in the competition for young people and talent.

The Independence Party wants to create a city that works for people and businesses. A capital city, where people can seek happiness on their own terms. We want an urban environment that prioritizes families and welfare services that guarantee the right of every individual to live with dignity. We want an urban environment that attracts talented people with a range of job opportunities, exciting housing options and diverse transportation options. We want a city that paves the way for those who want to advance and supports creativity and value creation. A capital city that is based on free choice, equal opportunities, free enterprise and efficient operations.

The Independence Party in Reykjavík wants responsible financial management, low taxes, an efficient regulatory framework, and strong basic services where services are organized for the benefit of citizens, not systems.

The Independence Party wants to facilitate traffic so that people can get between places faster. Freedom and choice of diverse modes of transport must be guaranteed and control over citizens must be abandoned. One mode of transport should not exclude another - the future should include freedom of choice and flexibility.

The Independence Party wants to start the construction of Sundabraut immediately. It is a nationally profitable transportation project and an important connection for many neighborhoods in Reykjavík, as well as strengthening Reykjavík as the capital of all citizens and strengthening the position of civil defense. Implementation needs to be done in harmony with residents and businesses.

The financing and prioritization of projects in the Capital Region Transport Charter must be reviewed. The Independence Party rejects expressway and traffic charges in the Capital Region and calls for the state contribution to be financed in other ways. Transportation projects must be prioritized so that the most urgent and profitable projects receive priority. Construction schedules and planning in terms of construction costs must be taken into account. The misaligned intersections at Sprengisandur, Miklubrautargöngur and the introduction of smart traffic lights must be expedited. Congestion at Höfðabakki must be reversed, traffic safety at busy intersections must be improved, and the necessary maintenance of the city's transportation infrastructure must be ensured.

The Independence Party considers the Borgarlína project to be a failure and intends to review it from scratch. A new, cost-effective express bus system on dedicated lanes that does not restrict general traffic will be implemented, in collaboration with the municipalities in the capital area. Trips will be more frequent, shelters will be better, the service will be more efficient, and the emphasis on centralizing dedicated lanes will be reduced. Imminent congestion on general traffic is rejected, such as on Suðurlandsbraut. Technical solutions and artificial intelligence will be used to collect data on the use of public buses in the coming years and the data will be used to develop the service. The goal of the new express bus system will be to make public transport a viable option for more people.

We want to ensure safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists and increase the number of heated paths. Pedestrian and cyclist connections will be improved throughout the city. Underpasses and pedestrian bridges will be installed on children's walking paths that cross busy roads.

The city's parking policy needs to be overhauled so that it better meets the needs of residents and businesses. The twenty-fold increase in street maintenance fees for underground parking garages needs to be abolished. Changes to parking fees in the city center that led to the expansion of charging areas, increased fees, and extended charging periods need to be reversed. The charging fee has become a burdensome city center tax that deters citizens from seeking shopping and services in this dynamic market area. It also needs to review charging in residential areas, improve resident cards, increase flexibility, and implement parking cards for employers.

The Independence Party in Reykjavík wants the new urban areas in the capital area to be located underground in tunnels in a private construction project, taking into account the experience of the Hvalfjörður Tunnel. This will significantly relieve above-ground traffic, increase quality of life and reduce above-ground disturbance during construction. Tunnels will achieve better utilization of land space, increased traffic capacity, more privacy and better air quality.

In addition to the above, traffic flow during peak hours can be improved by discussing with businesses, institutions and educational institutions about changing the start of the working day and the teaching day. Furthermore, a greater balance of traffic flows could be achieved by increasing the number of workplaces in the eastern city.

The Independence Party places great emphasis on accelerating the energy transition in sea, air and land transportation. Significantly improved access to clean Icelandic energy for electric car users in urban areas must be ensured, in collaboration with market players.

The operational security of Reykjavík Airport will be ensured in Vatnsmýri until another better location is found. Sundahöfn will remain the nation's largest import and export port.

The Independence Party intends to ensure efficient and effective snow removal and winter services on the city's streets and paths. Streets will be swept and cleaned regularly throughout the year in collaboration with the Icelandic Road Administration to reduce particulate pollution.

Freedom and choice of diverse transportation
The development of Sundabraut will begin immediately.
Congestion on Suðurlandsbraut is rejected
Intersection at Sprengisandur to be made irregular without delay
Highway construction to be accelerated
Smart lighting controls throughout the city
Congestion at intersection at Höfðabakki withdrawn
Parking regulations revised and fees changed in the city center
Abolish the twenty-fold increase in street maintenance fees for underground parking lots
New express train system developed that does not disrupt traffic
Safe walking and cycling routes
The number of heated paths will be increased in the city.
New trunk lines installed underground in tunnels
Balance is achieved in traffic flows with an increase in the number of workplaces in the eastern city.
Variable start times for the workday at the city's largest workplaces
Energy transition in transportation to be accelerated
The airport remains in Vatnsmýri
Sundahöfn remains the nation's largest import and export port
Snow removal will be improved for all modes of transport.
Streets will be swept and cleaned regularly.

Property should be within everyone's reach. The policy of private property is one of the fundamental foundations of the independence policy. The Independence Party wants to make it easier for everyone to own their own home, as housing is one of the largest economic variables in household operations and the best way to ensure people have secure housing.

The Independence Party wants to ensure a healthy housing market in Reykjavík with a greatly increased supply of land. Emphasis must be placed on the development of new building sites accompanied by moderate density of settlements in accordance with the existing settlements and that it be implemented in a way that causes the least disruption to the quality of life of existing residents. New districts must be planned with an emphasis on mixed settlements, such as in Geldinganes, Gufunes, Úlfarsárdalur, Kjalarnes, Keldnaland and Grandi. The Independence Party supports the expansion of the growth limits of the capital area.

The Independence Party wants to trust the market to develop apartments in the housing market for which there is demand. Development agreements should be made with house builders that guarantee speed of construction and a 12-month payment period for the building right fee. Onerous obligations on housing development should be abolished, as they have increased construction costs and raised housing prices, such as the obligation to have commercial space in new residential buildings, a twenty-fold increase in the street construction fee, and tight restrictions on parking spaces.

The environment and planning sector will be service-oriented and opportunities for outsourcing projects will be examined. Cost-effective digital solutions, innovation in planning and construction administration, lower taxes and a more flexible regulatory framework for the construction industry in Reykjavík will be ensured. The processing time for applications will never be longer than 30 days.

A healthy housing market based on a private property policy.
The market should be given greater freedom to develop apartments for the housing market.
Onerous obligations and fees abolished.
Development contracts and more flexible payment terms for building rights.
New neighborhoods planned in Geldinganes, Gufunes, Úlfarsárdalur, Kjalarnes, Keldnaland and Grandi.
The Environment and Planning Department will be service-oriented.
Processing time never longer than 30 days.

The Independence Party wants the city to be reorganized on the basis of the neighborhoods – based on their uniqueness and strengths. City neighborhoods should be organized with the aim of being able to access the main shops and services within a 15-minute walk. The premise of 15-minute neighborhoods is a mixed settlement where residential housing, workplaces and services are in close proximity to each other. The increase in workplaces in the eastern part of the city will promote this development and have a positive impact on transportation in the city.

The Independence Party believes it is important that the city's neighborhoods are child-friendly. Families are offered strong elementary schools, preschool or daycare services, and sports and leisure activities close to home. In addition, careful attention should be paid to public health, access to green spaces, and opportunities for exercise and outdoor recreation within city neighborhoods.

Urban neighborhoods maintain their uniqueness and strengths
City districts will be transformed into 15-minute neighborhoods
Services for families with children within neighborhoods
Increasing the number of jobs in the eastern city
Access to outdoor activities and green areas guaranteed

The education and upbringing of children is the pillar of society for the future. It is important that each individual's formative years are well prepared. In recent decades, there has been a dangerous development in school affairs in this country, but Icelandic students are now doing increasingly worse in international comparisons. There has been a strong emphasis on fewer coordinated measurements, lower demands placed on students and a negative view of competition in school work. It is long overdue to reverse this disastrous development in the nation's education - but to do this we need accessible data, measurable goals and clear benchmarks.

The Reykjavík Independence Party intends to be a leading force in children's education and take immediate action to address the problem, which is multifaceted. Equal opportunities are a guiding principle of the independence policy, and this includes, among other things, that neither the economy nor social status affect the potential of children - to seek their talents and create opportunities and value from them. It is based on our belief in the individual and a society where no one is left behind.

The Independence Party believes it is important that a uniform assessment be carried out in all grades of compulsory school. The results of such an assessment shed light on how students have managed to master as many aspects of the National Curriculum as possible, while the assessment also ensures increased equality and more transparent feedback for students, parents, schools and education authorities. Such an assessment can also shed light on which schools need increased support from city authorities. The Independence Party wants to request that the Ministry of Education and Children's Affairs return to a numerical scale of 1-10, as this arrangement has proven to be more understandable for teachers, parents and students. Assessment in the current curriculum, based on color codes, symbols or letters, is difficult to understand and there is a strong demand for changes.

We want to ensure equal public funding for all children in the school system, regardless of the operating structure of the schools they attend. The funding is a right for children and children and their parents must be guaranteed the freedom to choose a suitable school. There must be more options in the school system for children with special needs. Healthy and modern school buildings must be ensured throughout the city.

The Independence Party believes it is necessary to increase the physical activity of Reykjavík schoolchildren and improve the quality of school meals. The Independence Party in Reykjavík also emphasizes a two-year pilot project with a phone break in Reykjavík's primary schools so that its impact on children's well-being and academic performance can be assessed. School work needs to take into account the fourth industrial revolution and the future reality that our children face, with an increased emphasis on STEAM subjects in the city's primary schools.

It is necessary to ensure that children who immigrate to the country and do not speak Icelandic take their first steps in primary school in a reception class where there is a special emphasis on Icelandic and Icelandic society. The gap in PISA scores in Iceland between students with an immigrant background and native students is one of the largest within the OECD. More than half of immigrant students lack the reading comprehension to be able to continue their studies or enter the labour market. The school system clearly needs to meet this group of students better, but reception classes could prove to be a bridge for a limited time before the students acquire the skills to start studying in a mainstream class.

The City of Reykjavík should take the lead in school matters nationwide. The city should set itself the goal of making the Icelandic school system among the best in Europe in terms of academic achievement and child well-being. Students should be able to read for themselves after ten years of schooling. Data and measurable goals should be used more extensively in school work so that success can be assessed.

Uniform assessment will be implemented in all grades of primary school.
Ratings on a scale of 1-10
Phone holidays in elementary schools
Reception departments in primary schools for children who move to this country but do not speak Icelandic.
The Icelandic school system will be among the best within the OECD
Equal public funding for preschool and primary schools regardless of operating form
Increasing the importance of STEAM subjects in school work
Healthy school buildings guaranteed
All students can read for their own benefit after completing primary school.

The family is the basic unit of society and the city's systems must take it into account. The Independence Party wants to prioritize family issues and considers solving the preschool and daycare problem to be both a priority and an important equality issue. The Independence Party in Reykjavík does not support the so-called Reykjavík path in preschool issues, as the party has not given up on the task of offering families in Reykjavík a full-day service.

We want to ensure that families in Reykjavík have a variety of solutions following maternity leave. We want to strengthen Reykjavík's preschools and improve conditions for both children and staff. We want to support independent preschools and workplaces that want to open preschools or daycare for their employees' children. We also want to introduce daycare centers for children aged 12 months to 30 months that would ensure a safe and developmentally appropriate environment for the youngest children and prepare them for kindergarten. Families who choose to stay home with their children longer would be offered home payments for up to 12 months.

We want to undertake the development of preschool facilities in collaboration with private parties, with an emphasis on a high-quality environment for children and staff. We need to pay more attention to the maintenance of preschool facilities in the city. We want to undertake an effort to make the city's preschools desirable places to work. We need to address the 10% sickness rate in the city's preschools.

We also want equal public funding for every child in the preschool system, regardless of the operating structure of the preschool they attend. The funding is the children's right.

An effort needs to be undertaken that includes bringing all preschool staff to a B2 level in Icelandic.

During the election period, all families will be offered solutions after maternity leave.
Development of preschool facilities in collaboration with private parties.
Collaboration on daycare or preschool in larger workplaces
Introducing daycare centers in Reykjavík for children aged 12 to 30 months
Home payments for those who choose to stay at home after maternity leave.
Equal public funding for preschool and primary schools regardless of operating form
Icelandic language lessons for preschool and daycare staff

The Reykjavík Independence Party emphasizes strong sports activities in Reykjavík and that all children are guaranteed equal opportunities for sports and leisure activities in the city. It is urgent to prioritize budget allocations for sports and youth affairs to support the key role of sports and leisure in upbringing, prevention, public health and social development of children and young people. Sports and youth activities are an important part of promoting equal opportunities and strengthening social ties among children with diverse backgrounds such as origin, social status and residence. It is necessary to ensure equality among sports clubs and sports disciplines. In this way, the opportunities for children in all neighborhoods of the city will be maximized.

The Independence Party emphasizes increased continuity between school, leisure, sports, leisure and art studies for children in order to simplify family life. The participation of children of foreign origin in organized sports and leisure activities needs to be better supported, not least with a view to better utilization of leisure cards. Emphasis needs to be placed on promoting sports and leisure activities in the city's primary schools. Cooperation and dialogue between primary schools, leisure centres, sports clubs and the parent community needs to be increased, with the needs of students foremost. The Independence Party wants to launch the project "allir præða" (everyone practices), where the emphasis is placed on all children in Reykjavík participating in organized sports or leisure activities. This is t

The Independence Party believes it is important that the City of Reykjavík becomes a member of the sports clubs and that the city's cooperation with the sports clubs be improved. The development of high-performance work in sports must be strengthened with the aim of achieving comparable results to the best in our neighboring countries. The basis for this is to foster sports for children and youth, and to provide facilities and training. It is important that children and youth have equal access to a variety of sports and leisure activities. The Independence Party wants to ensure that the youngest athletes have the opportunity to try out many sports and thus find their sport. Work will be systematically carried out on the development of the national stadium and hall, in collaboration with private parties, to improve the facilities and possibilities for holding international competitions and matches.

The city's swimming pools are centers of public health in the city and can play an important role in prevention. The Reykjavík Independence Party believes it is urgent to ensure good access to them, longer opening hours and regular maintenance. Party swimming will be organized once a month, with one pool open until midnight. Work will be done in collaboration with Kópavogur Municipality to develop a swimming pool in Fossvogsdalur. Viðey will be planned as a powerful outdoor recreation area, including a golf course, hiking trails and playgrounds. Access to the city's sports and school buildings will be increased so that active sports and leisure activities can be promoted in the city's neighborhoods.

The development of sports facilities will be for the benefit of children and young people.
Increased continuity between school, free time, leisure activities and art studies.
The development of high-performance work is strengthened.
Swimming pool opening hours extended.
Swimming pool in Fossvogsdalur in collaboration with Kópavogur.
Outdoor recreation area with a golf course in Viðey.

The Independence Party wants to ensure welfare services that increase the quality of life, promote activity and guarantee all city residents the opportunity to live with dignity. With support for private initiative, we can increase the number of options and meet diverse needs. We want to promote a health-promoting urban environment and the protection of green areas, so that everyone can be guaranteed equal opportunities and diverse ways to practice a healthy lifestyle. Special emphasis should be placed on ensuring that all planning work in the city of Reykjavík takes public health into account.

There needs to be a strong emphasis on a health-promoting lifestyle, both mental and physical, through a healthy diet and regular exercise. Such an approach should be reflected in all activities of schools and establishments that provide services to the city's residents.

It should be good to grow old in Reykjavík, but the rising life expectancy calls for a change in emphasis towards older people. People must be enabled to live at home for as long as they choose. The prerequisite for this is strong and coordinated home services and home nursing – together with personal and efficient service. The city needs to ensure sufficient land supply for private enterprises to begin extensive development of diverse housing options for older generations – to form so-called quality of life centers or apartments run by interest groups for older people. It is important that such apartments include parking. At the same time, a major effort must be made to build nursing homes in collaboration with the state. Welfare technology should be an important factor in safety and improved facilities in the homes of older people.

The Independence Party wants the income threshold for property tax discounts for those aged 67 and over to be raised so that a larger group can enjoy discounted rates. Health promotion and activity of older people need to be promoted. The Independence Party wants to implement a 4,000 kr. income-related monthly leisure allowance and free skiing for those aged 67 and over.

We want to ensure continuity in mental health services for children. Waiting lists are long and individuals often fall between the ship and the dock within the system. Increased prevention and easy access to specialist services right from preschool and primary school could make a difference. Technological solutions need to be used to the fullest extent possible to improve access to services.

People with disabilities are a diverse group with diverse needs that require services on an individual basis. It is necessary to ensure that people with disabilities can attend school, work and engage in other leisure activities. e text ar

Plots for housing development for senior citizens
Increase in income limits for property tax discounts for those aged 67 and over
Health promotion for senior citizens with a leisure card and free of charge in Bláfjöll
Diverse operating forms in welfare services
Healthy eating and regular exercise at city workplaces
Increasing the number of nursing homes in collaboration with the state
Disabled people are guaranteed the right to live an independent life.
Psychological services in elementary schools, even with technological solutions

The Independence Party believes it is important to ensure sustainability in the city's operations, as sound operations are a prerequisite for robust services.

The city's governance system has become a mess - it needs to reduce overcrowding, stop debt accumulation, and be more prudent in managing citizens' funds. A financial and governance audit of the city system is needed with the goal of simplifying the system, increasing efficiency, reducing waste, and prioritizing funds for basic services to citizens.

Outsourcing of projects needs to be increased and companies in competitive operations such as Ljósleiðari and Malbikunarstöðin Höfði need to be sold. City-owned companies that ensure citizens have access to clean water and energy should not be used as cash cows for city funds. All city fund investments should be subject to a profitability assessment before they are approved. Planning and expenditure control within the city need to be improved. The rampant increase in property taxes on residential and commercial properties needs to be stopped.

A culture of achievement will be implemented throughout the city system, with a clear demand for benefits and results for the benefit of citizens. Artificial intelligence will also be increasingly implemented to ensure increased efficiency in operations and better service to people and businesses.

Pressure will be exerted for a change in the law to reduce the number of city council members from 23 to 15.

Property taxes reduced on residential and commercial properties.
Financial and administrative system audit for optimization and simplification.
Reduced overhead, debt repayment and outsourcing of projects.
Demand for profit and success in all activities.
Investments are subject to profitability assessment.
Improve planning and expenditure control.
Artificial intelligence implemented to increase efficiency and improve service
The city sells the Höfði and the Optical Fiber
The number of city council members will be reduced from 23 to 15.

The Independence Party wants to ensure positive incentives for progress and value creation in Reykjavík. It must be ensured that public systems have an encouraging, but not inhibiting, effect on initiative and enterprise in the city. Administration must be simplified, processing times shortened, the number of steps for granting permits reduced and electronic application processes ensured. We want property taxes on commercial properties to be competitive and access to commercial land to be improved.

The value creation of the future will be based on ingenuity, innovation and technology. There are great opportunities for innovation in Reykjavík and it is important that the city becomes a desirable location for research, development and investment, and not least for foreign companies and experts to be based in Iceland. A strong knowledge society is part of the city's competitiveness and it is important that the administration supports innovation and that new companies and ideas are given space to grow and prosper.

The Independence Party wants to create a diverse city that celebrates the diversity of human life. We must utilize the human resources, knowledge and experience of all those who choose to live and work in the city. We must welcome talented foreign people who move to this country and seek opportunities in this country to participate in the work and projects of society.

Build the supply and organization of industrial sites in the city.
Establish the city center as a thriving center of commerce and services.
Real estate taxes on commercial properties will be reduced.
Reykjavík will be a desirable location for innovation and idea-driven business activities.
Shorter processing times and electronic administration.
Increased transparency and better access to information.

In modern society, cultural activities play a key role. They provide entertainment, create jobs and are a source of new ideas and experiences. Culture is a shaping force in society and a creative driving force. Its direct impact is difficult to measure, but it is undeniable that a society without culture is an unlivable society. The economic benefits of culture, the arts and the creative industries are also undisputed and supported by both domestic and international research.

Culture and the creative industries play a key role in the upbringing, prevention, public health and social development of children and young people. Such work is an important part of promoting equal opportunities and strengthening social connections for children from diverse backgrounds. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure children and young people's access to arts and culture and to bring this work increasingly into the neighborhoods.

Reykjavík is the center of the creative industries in Iceland and should support and strengthen culture in the city by promoting a healthy working environment for artists. The largest group of artists is self-employed. It is important to create an internationally competitive environment for the creative industries, just like elsewhere in the business world. The creative industries will play a key role in economic development and export activities in the coming years, creating diverse jobs and income for the national economy.

Good access to libraries must be ensured and school libraries must be supported in order to promote reading and Icelandic language skills. Libraries play an important social role and ways must be found to increase their diverse use and utilization, such as social activities in the city's neighborhoods. It is important that the city's grants for cultural affairs are professional and transparent. Everyone sits at the same table when it comes to such budgets.

Children and young people's access to culture in Reykjavík must be ensured.
Increased emphasis on creative subjects in preschool and primary schools.
Increased use of libraries.
Grants for cultural affairs are professional and transparent.

The Independence Party wants to promote increased forestry and protect the green areas in the city. We believe it is right that the development of these areas should focus solely on improving facilities for outdoor activities and recreation. With easy access to green areas, we can contribute to improved mental and physical health, as well as improved air quality.

The Independence Party wants Reykjavík to become a clean and tidy city again, with grass mowed, vegetation maintained and the city's land a credit to the residents. Emphasis should be placed on planting colorful plants to increase the joy and well-being of residents. Efforts must be made to clean the streets, especially in the spring when there is a risk that dirty streets will become a source of particulate matter.

The Independence Party wants to improve garbage collection in the city and for it to be put out to tender, like in neighboring municipalities.

We want to collaborate with the business community on a greener construction industry and ensure lower taxes for those who choose to build in an environmentally friendly way.

Protection of green areas
Clean city, beautiful square
City garbage collection put out to tender
Greatly improved access to charging stations, in collaboration with market players
Lower taxes for an environmentally friendly construction industry?
Increased afforestation and planting