Former Iceland prime minister to pro-EU voters: Your referendum doesn’t matter

Key Points:

• Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, leader of Iceland’s Centre Party and former prime minister, believes the upcoming EU membership referendum does not obligate Reykjavík to restart accession talks, even if the "Yes" side wins, due to the vague wording of the referendum question.
• The referendum on August 29 asks Icelanders whether negotiations on EU membership should resume, with recent polls showing a slight lead for the "Yes" camp; geopolitical concerns, such as U.S. interest in Greenland, have added complexity to the debate.
• Gunnlaugsson downplays fears of a U.S. annexation of Greenland, calling it political hyperbole, and emphasizes caution regarding Iceland’s Schengen zone membership, advocating for stronger border controls without necessarily leaving the agreement.
• The Centre Party, which joined the European Conservatives and Reformists group in 2023, positions itself as conservative and centrist but faces criticism for alleged populism; its deputy chair expressed concern over immigration's impact on Iceland’s small population and culture, suggesting potential revisions to free movement rules.