Watch Althingi Live TV from Iceland
Watch Althingi Live TV from Iceland
Government TV Channel / The Alþingi is the national parliament of Iceland. It is the longest running parliament in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir (“thing fields”), situated approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of what later became the country’s capital, Reykjavík. Even after Iceland’s union with Norway in 1262, the Althing still held its sessions at Þingvellir until 1800, when it was discontinued for 45 years. It was restored in 1844 and moved to Reykjavík, where it has resided ever since. The present parliament building, the Alþingishús, was built in 1881, of hewn Icelandic stone. The unicameral parliament has 63 members, and is elected every four years based on Party-list proportional representation.