Definitely no or maybe yes: what tipped the Icelandic referendum
The no campaign was well-funded and accused of scaremongering, but the wording of the question may also have made a difference
TL;DR
- Iceland's referendum on resuming EU accession negotiations resulted in a 'no' victory with 52.8% of the vote.
- The 'no' campaign was well-funded and accused of fearmongering, particularly concerning national identity issues like fishing and farming.
- A significant split was observed between voters in the capital and the rural rest of the country.
- The wording of the referendum question, 'Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?', may have favored a 'no' vote.
- Supporters of the 'yes' campaign acknowledged the effectiveness of the 'no' campaign's tactics and voter concerns about the EU.
- Iceland's foreign minister noted the importance of having the vote, regardless of the outcome, and highlighted foreign policy as a key agenda item.