Attitudes of party members towards the organization and work of the Socialist Party of Iceland

Due to discussions about the organization and operations of the Socialist Party of Iceland, the Executive Board (Framkvæmdastjórn) of the party has twice sent an attitude survey to party members regarding all the main aspects that critics of the party's organization and work have raised. Participation in these surveys has been satisfactory, around 13-15%. There is no indication that the attitudes of the members who responded differ from those of party members in general. If anything, it can be assumed that critics are more numerous among respondents than among party members in general.

The first attitude survey asked about five items:

First, members were asked how satisfied they were with the party's work and its activity in the discourse.

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 33% Somewhat satisfied: 46% Neither: 14% Somewhat dissatisfied: 5% Very dissatisfied: 1%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 93% Dissatisfied: 7%

Next, members were asked how satisfied they were with the work of the party's city council representatives in Reykjavík.

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 72% Somewhat satisfied: 22% Neither: 5% Somewhat dissatisfied: 1% Very dissatisfied: 1%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 98% Dissatisfied: 2%

Then, members were asked how satisfied they were with the party's performance in the election campaign for the November elections.

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 22% Somewhat satisfied: 40% Neither: 16% Somewhat dissatisfied: 14% Very dissatisfied: 9%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 73% Dissatisfied: 27%

Then, members were asked how satisfied they were with the party's support for Samstaðan.

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 58% Somewhat satisfied: 21% Neither: 12% Somewhat dissatisfied: 5% Very dissatisfied: 4%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 90% Dissatisfied: 10%

And finally, members were asked how satisfied they were with the party's support for various interest groups through Vorstjarnan.

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 63% Somewhat satisfied: 22% Neither: 11% Somewhat dissatisfied: 3% Very dissatisfied: 2%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 95% Dissatisfied: 5%

The second attitude survey asked about six items:

First, members were asked how satisfied they were with randomly selected members being entrusted with formulating policy on specific issues, which are then presented to a general meeting.

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 43% Somewhat satisfied: 26% Neither: 13% Somewhat dissatisfied: 10% Very dissatisfied: 7%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 80% Dissatisfied: 20%

Next, members were asked how satisfied they were with the Socialist Congress (Sósíalistaþing) electing people to independent boards, each with a clearly defined scope of authority (such as: the Election Committee (Kosningastjórn), the Policy Board (Málefnastjórn), and the Executive Board (Framkvæmdastjórn)).

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 44% Somewhat satisfied: 33% Neither: 11% Somewhat dissatisfied: 7% Very dissatisfied: 6%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 86% Dissatisfied: 14%

Then, members were asked how they wanted the party's candidate list to be selected, and three options were given, in addition to the possibility of suggesting another.

The responses were distributed as follows: Randomly selected nomination committee: 25% Nomination committee under the Election Committee: 25% Primary election: 40% Other: 10%

Then, members were asked how satisfied they were with the Socialist Congress electing people to boards and entrusting them with specific tasks between general meetings, but submitting anything that can be classified as a significant change in the party's work to a general meeting.

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 44% Somewhat satisfied: 35% Neither: 13% Somewhat dissatisfied: 5% Very dissatisfied: 2%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 92% Dissatisfied: 8%

Then, members were asked how satisfied they were with the party's organization requiring that complaints about inappropriate behavior and violations against members be referred to the Confidentiality Council (Samviska), a randomly selected group of members.

The responses were distributed as follows: Very satisfied: 43% Somewhat satisfied: 26% Neither: 14% Somewhat dissatisfied: 7% Very dissatisfied: 10%

If only the responses of those who took a stance are considered, the members' attitudes were distributed as follows:

Satisfied: 80% Dissatisfied: 20%

Finally, members were asked what they wanted the next Socialist Congress to primarily discuss, and four options that have been mentioned in the discussion were given, but members were also invited to mention other things. It was possible to mark more than one option.

The responses were distributed as follows: Organization of the Socialist Party of Iceland: 34% Revival of radical politics: 54% Advocacy for the people of the country: 82% Local elections 2026: 60% Other: 14%

There are no examples of comparable attitude surveys among members of other political movements, but as is well known, there are, as in the Socialist Party, differing views on various issues. Therefore, it is not possible to say whether the group that is dissatisfied with various aspects of the Socialist Party's work is large or small compared to similar groups in other parties. These surveys, however, indicate that a large majority of party members are satisfied with the party's structure and work and want to continue building the party on the foundation that has been laid.