et appointed by the prime minister
and approved by Parliament election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON
ran unopposed in 2000 and was reelected elections: president elected
by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 June 1996
(next to be held NA June 2004); President GRIMSSON ran unopposed in June
2000 so there were no elections; prime minister appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) election results:
percent of vote by party - Independence Party 40.7%, The Alliance (PA,
People's Party, Women's List) 26.8%, Progressive Party 18.4%, Left-Green
Alliance 9.1%, Liberal Party 4.2%; seats by party - Independence Party 26,
The Alliance 17, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 6, Liberal
Party 2 elections: Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur
(justices are appointed for life by the president)

Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative) or IP
[David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal
Party [Sverrir HERMANNSSON]; People's Party (Social Democratic Party)
or SDP [Sighvatur BJORGVINSSON]; Progressive Party (liberal) or PP
[Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; The Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA,
Social Democratic Party or SVP, People's Movement, Women's List) [Ossur
SKARPHEDINSSON]; Women's List or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CBSS,
CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005-1704 consulate(s) general: Diplomatic representation
from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara J. GRIFFITHS embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003,
Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340 telephone: [354] 5629100 FAX: [354] 5629123

Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to
the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy I