We are back

We are back. And who are we? We are socialists. Socialists were a powerful force for struggle in Iceland in the past. They fought in the labor movement, in social affairs, welfare affairs, and in politics. And they played a large part in us living in a welfare society. They fought for social security, health insurance funds, a shorter work week, the construction of workers' housing and later Breiðholt, and for the social housing system – quite right, which was abolished – and they fought for many other things concerning the interests of those who were poor and vulnerable.

Why are we back? We are back because the welfare society has weakened. Those who are young and those who are old feel it keenly. The public's housing needs have been turned into a cash cow, even though it borders on being a human rights violation – human rights conventions stipulate that governments ensure everyone has suitable housing. Poverty is the lot of many elderly and disabled people, low-wage earners are in a poverty trap, and the privatization of public projects is in full swing. We are the answer to Gamma and similar companies – we are the answer to the call of the times.

We are also back because our protest movements have weakened and gone astray. Both the labor movement and politics. The left has become center or right. We advocate for strong work in a rebuilt labor movement – which we have done a lot of grassroots work to rebuild and still have more to do – and we will use politics to advance the cause of those who are less fortunate – those who have not had advocates in recent years.

And many have started to tremble. The attacks on Sósíalistaflokkurinn are in full swing on social media, but they strengthen us and confirm our belief that we are the renewed force for struggle.

Sósíalistaflokkurinn has come to tackle poverty and inequality. And I am its candidate because I do not consider it appropriate in a country with the third highest average income per capita in the world to leave the inequality that exists here unchallenged.

Inequality that offers those living in nursing and care homes 68 thousand ISK in pocket money per month, inequality that considers stripped social security benefits acceptable, which are about 100 thousand ISK lower than subsistence levels, inequality that imposes heavy reductions on those who have saved in pension funds their entire lives so that they do not enjoy their savings, inequality that does nothing to ensure equal rights for all to decent housing.

Many are on the city's waiting lists for social housing, how long do you think the waiting time is now? Exactly, many years, even a whole electoral term. Many are in the general rental market, but stripped benefits are not enough for apartment rent. And today, hundreds of elderly people are in hospitals and cannot be discharged because there are no nursing home beds available.

Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn has announced the abolition of property taxes, which is only intended to benefit those who have too high incomes to be able to enjoy their abolition or discount.

In fact, we are not opposed to public funds being used to improve the situation of the elderly – but we are of the opinion that everyone should benefit equally and that it is immoral to give it only to the richest group. Our focus, however, is more on those who do not own housing, which is up to half of the elderly. And on those who need support and services, cleaning, food, and other things. This group currently has to pay for home care services, even though it is clear that it is socially beneficial for people to stay in their homes for as long as possible.

Good people. Many of us are old enough to remember the struggle of the socialists. 5-week strikes. The struggle for the construction of Breiðholt. The struggle for the pension funds, from which the state now takes its share. Socialists are back. The struggle is beginning anew. In the trade unions, in other social activities, and in politics. Let's join hands.

Speech delivered at a meeting of Félag eldri borgara and Grái herinn in Ráðhús Reykjavíkur on May 5, 2018