Alþýðufylkingin

The People‘s Front of Iceland (PFI) is a new political party that seeks to put the power and wealth of Iceland into the hands of its inhabitants and usher in a new age of social equality and economic justice.

 

The People‘s Front of Iceland (PFI) is an instrument for the working people of Iceland to pursue their interests by means of wresting them from the hands of the bourgeoisie. For that to be possible, we will have to strengthen democracy and the political and economic independence of the country, and unwind the marketisation that has increased in most aspects in recent decades.

 

The PFI is unconditionally opposed to Iceland’s membership of the European Union, NATO and other imperialist alliances. The PFI will fight against the unlimited import of capital to Iceland, and against any restrictions on Iceland‘s full national sovereignty. Furthermore, the PFI supports other nations’ struggles for their own sovereignty and against all forms of exploitation and oppression. Iceland shall act for peace and justice in the international forum.

 

Socialisation – equality – human rights – subsistence security

 

The PFI fights for equality. A requirement is a wide socialisation in the economy. By “socialisation”, we don’t just mean state ownership or another form of common ownership, but that the goals of the operation will be different and broader than simple profit: The interest of the public, and that of society as a whole, will be the first priority, the operation in question will submit to democratic decisions and policies, and that nobody should be entitled to extract a private profit from it.

 

A key issue is that all financial operations must be socially operated, so that they will stop sucking up a great slice of the value from the economy for the profit of a small minority. That way we can create space for a resurrection of the welfare system and strengthen all of the infrastructure of society. Also, an opportunity will be created for the products to be enjoyed by those who produce and by society. By removing the burden of interest payments from the price of commodities and real estate debt, we can improve the standard of living and shorten working hours. A transparent wage system must be established, with only a moderate disparity in wages, with a wage rate that is observed in reality, and with a ban on wage secrecy. That way, we can, e.g., ensure equal wages for both sexes and prevent the accumulation of capital and monopoly.

 

The People’s Front aims to introduce equality as a basic principle of society.We want realistic action to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, residence or other social standing. The resolution of disputes, including through the courts, should be free of charge for all parties, so that private finance can not condition justice.

 

Anyone who cannot earn a living by their labour must have secure means of subsistence, without having to buy their rights in pension funds. We will unwind the pension fund system, which now rests on special taxation and accumulation into funds that are supposed to cover pensions by decades of speculation in the financial market, but are doomed to lose a great deal of their investment. Instead, we propose a coordinated, social pension system that will insure for everyone in need the same amount for their subsistence, whether the reason be old age, disability, bad health, unemployment or anything else. It should be made possible for everyone to use their abilities in the interest of society. Retirement should be flexible and, to some extent, according to one’s own wishes.

 

Social infrastructure

 

The People’s Front of Iceland fights for the resurrection of the health care system. Increased socialisation in the economy creates space to divert more funds towards health care. We must create conditions for all health care to be socially operated or run by the state or by the municipalities, so that the funds will be put to the best use, and we will cooperate with health care workers on establishing this system. The goal is for everyone to be able to get the health services that they need and that are technically possible, free of charge and as locally as possible. Primary care must be strengthened and public health given greater weight. Dental health should be run on the same principle as other medical services and the production of medicines, as well as pharmacies, must become a part of the public health service.

 

The PFI wants to improve the education system. The education policy would be to systematically develop personal and social maturity in Icelandic youth, in the spirit of justice and fairness. We stress equal access to education, and as appropriate, to lifelong learning. The basis of education policy should be that education is a part of the standard of living that everybody has a right to, and a social good rather than a market commodity. We will try to make education fit the needs and talents of each individual. The entire school system shall be socially operated and free of charge.

 

The PFI wants, in general, to further the social in society, to the detriment of marketisation, especially in the public services, which everybody needs, and in the management of natural resources, which should be publicly owned. It is necessary to free society from the vicious cycle of capitalism that demands constant growth of the economy.

 

Natural resources – protection of nature and the environment

 

The PFI will systematically work towards bringing the natural resources of land and sea under common, national ownership, to be neither sold nor mortgaged, so that the public can enjoy the harvest that they reap. Fishing quotas will be recalled and redistributed for short periods while we work out a fishing system for the future. We will prevent the owners of the fishing industry from speculating with fishing quotas.

 

The PFI opposes the trend toward the wealthy acquiring the national water and energy resources. It is necessary to operate them socially, to ensure sustainability as well as to maximize utility for the public. All profits from the natural resources should go towards improving the standard of living for the public.

 

The PFI is opposed to allowing nature, land or the environment be spoiled or corrupted for the profit of the wealthy few. We must prevent too much accumulation and monopoly in the agricultural and tourist industries, as this can deteriorate the land. Also, we will prevent the wealthy from dominating council planning by means of their ownership of land. We will allocate funds towards the conservation of the environment and to improve land and protect it from degradation.

 

Industries – taxes

 

The PFI works for industrial diversity in the economy. A safe supply of food and other necessities will be the first priority, along with increased equality and a better standard of living for the public. Where it serves our basic goals, social operations will be used, although private businesses can be justified for valuable goods production and services that do not count as part of the infrastructure of society. The goal of the industries should not be to grow exponentially to increase profit and inequality, but to fulfill the needs of society and create export revenue to pay for necessary imports of goods and services to the country.

 

The PFI opposes the investment of foreign capital in the country, both in the form of loans and direct investments, unless it is necessary for technical reasons or in exceptional cases. Primary conditions for investment in Icelandic society should be residence in the country and for the party in question to be a part of the society where the operation is situated. The industries should promote residency in all parts of the country, the responsible and sustainable use of land and other natural resources, and an equal living standard, regardless of place of residence.

 

The PFI wants to reform taxation by reducing the taxes paid by the public and increasing those paid out of company profits, as they will gain increased profits when the burden of paying interest to finance capital, and to so-called professional investors, is lifted off their shoulders.