In 2012, a left-center party was created under the name Björt Framtíð (Bright Future) and performed very well in the 2013 general election (winning six seats in the Althing). Polls show gradually declining support for the party throughout 2014 and a steep decline in 2015. Many would attribute this decline to the popularity (or lack thereof) of the party chairman, Guðmundur Steingrímsson. In an interview with Stöð 2 - Fréttir (Channel Two News), I offered a skeptical view of this explanation.
In short, (i) people overestimate the importance of party leaders and underestimate that of party policy; (ii) Bright Future's leader had not been noticeably criticized in social media (unlike several other party leaders) prior to steep decline in party support; (iii) Mr. Steingrímsson stays active in public discourse and has not failed in bringing attention to the party's policies; (iv) centrist parties struggle across Europe; and (v) history shows that Icelandic splinter parties (of which there have been many on the left) rarely last long.