Icelandic Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde again reiterated yesterday that the time for new elections in Iceland has not yet come. In his opinion, calling elections now would leave the country without effective government while the vote is prepared; and that would not be in the national interest. He would, however, not rule out elections as early as next winter.
As previously reported on IceNews, protesters gathering on Tuesday outside Althingi (parliament) decided to stay overnight until yesterday’s parliamentary session commenced at 13.30.
In the event, however, there was no session of parliament yesterday: instead the Prime Minister met with other party leaders. Overnight scuffles with the police meant the protest was abandoned around 03.00 Wednesday morning anyway.
Police extinguished several bonfires in the early hours of Wednesday morning, where protesters attempted to burn wood including a park bench and the Norwegian Christmas tree.
The protesters gathered again yesterday lunchtime, staying on in large numbers late into the night. Protests were also held in Egilsstadir and Akureyri, where a public meeting at 20.00 was followed by further protests on Radhustorg Square.
The Prime Minister’s car was also pelted with eggs and snowballs as it attempted to transport the PM away from his office yesterday afternoon. After police ensured his safe passage, the office building was also pelted. One window was smashed.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Party’s new leader Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson has offered his party up as the minority partner in a new coalition with the Left Green Party and the Social Democrats (one of the two current coalition parties).
If the Left Greens and Social Democrats agree to the proposal, the new government’s likely first move would be to call new elections for the end of April.
The left Green Party is said to be interested in the proposal, but Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, the Social Democrat leader, is undergoing medical treatment in Sweden.
As Icelandic politics continues to move with unprecedented speed, IceNews will continue to keep you regularly updated.
[…] […]
Then they should stop taking orders from the government and let the protesters overthrow it. Since they chose a side in this conflict, they don’t get to complain when they suffer the consequences of that decision.
[…] Infolge der Finanzkrise wurde die isländische Regierung seit Wochen von der Bevölkerung heftig kritisiert. Vor dem Althing (dem isländischen Parlament) versammelten sich täglich Demonstranten. Letzte Woche flogen sogar Eier gegen das Auto des isländischen Regierungschefs Geir Haarde. […]
@gus…I agree with you, the suckers are followers of a greedy lot mismanaging and messing up Icelandic Economy. Only a dumb ass will see such mess and give a round of applause to the clowns running the show in Iceland, in other countries e.g U.S.A, they threw the brain dead prez ( G.bush) out, but in Iceland that seems impossible, because there are way too much scared idiots and a#slickers up in Iceland.
The Democracy in Iceland sucks S##t @ this time, change is what Icelanders need, REAL POSITIVE CHANGE!!
[…] Review, von IceNews (”Iceland government faces serious new challenge” und “Opposition attempts to call Iceland elections, bypassing PM“) und von […]
mama, mama, the CAPS hurt my delicated eyes, please mama mama, make him stop!!! C’MON!!!!
>Your assement of the silent majority reminds me of President Nixon infamous statement of the “silent majority supporting him” during the Vietnam Conflict (note it was not a War), I think many of us know how that one turned out in history.
If you look at opinion polls you get a feel for attitudes. Only at the ballot box will you see what actually majority think assuming highturnout witch I think is guaranteed next election.
>The Independence Party has not show much leadership in the economic crisis and if you think hard about it, it would not wise of the Social Democrats to help their partner in government as they were in opposition when the policies put in place created the banking failure.
I think you taking all of the propoganda and ranting a bit too much as fact. In fact you look at what is actually going on communication is what you can critical the IP and SD of.
Actually what they are doing with IMF and other things is sensibile.
>As for your comments of the “rule of the mob”
very much agree it is not an Icelandic trait to resort to such things.
This stuff about publishing riot police addresses and encouraging harrasment of them and families gets my blood at a boil inparticular.
People inciting that are thugs, pure and simple.
>Yet, if you look at what happen in Riga, Latvia a week ago new elections will be held shortly due to such civil action. It’s insightful a former communist Baltic nation is more democratic than Iceland currently is.
If you think that democracy should be rule of the mob, then Latvia is more demoractic than Iceland.
I think most Icelanders will agree with something quite differnt however.
Gus, at the very least you should aknowledge the number of people that these businessmen gave (and still give ) employement to.
How many 100s thousands jobs these small number created through their entropreneur creation?
But really like many I am sure I don’t read your posts anymore. All in capitals just turns my eyes off. Let alone their raving content.
You should calm yourself down and think positive thoughts instead of this.
THIS IS CONFLICT AND THIS IS WAR, AGAINST CORRUPTION
ÁFRAM ÍSLAND!!
I AM NOT INCITING TO VIOLENCE, I AM INCITING TO JUSTICE, TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND GET RID OF THE OPPRESSION AND ABUSE OF THE MAFIA THAT IS GOVERNING THIS COUNTRY AS IT WAS THEIR OWN FEUDAL STATE.
THIS HAS CAME TO AN END. THE CARDS ARE PUT ON THE TABLE AND ICELANDERS ARE GOING TO RIGHTLY FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT, AND FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS WORTH.
THIS IS A SOVEREIGN FIGHT OF THE ICELANDIC NATION FOR THE ICELANDIC NATION. WE ARE ALL IN THIS, MOTHERS, CHILDREN, WORKERS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, YOUNG AND OLD, WOME AND MEN, WE ARE ALL IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST THIS CORRUPT GOVERMENT.
THEY HAVE NOT LISTEN TO US AND NOW THEY HAVE SHOWN US WHO THEY REALLY ARE. THEY ARE A MAFIA, THEY ARE CRIMINALS.
AS THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY TO ACCOUNT THEM, THE ICELANDIC NATION WILL BE THE HAND OF JUSTICE,
THIS IS NOT ATTACKING THIS IS SELFDEFENCE, AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE AGAINST THIS REVOLUTION AND ARE IN FAVOUR OF US TO BEHAVE LIKE LAMBS, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY TO YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT SHOWING ANY RESPECT FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.
THIS IS A FIGHT, BUT THE PEACE YOU WANT IS A PEACE WHERE PEOPLE SUFFERS, A PEACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELFES FREELY, A PEACE WHERE THE GOVERN DOES NOT LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THEY GOVERN, A PEACE WHERE THERE IS UNEMPLOYMENT AND MISERY, A PEACE WITHOUT HOPE AND FUTURE…
THIS IS A PEACE THAT YOU WANT, A FALSE PEACE…
DON´T YOU SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE THIS THIEFES TO THIS COUNTRY?
YES PEOPLE WHERE TAKEN AROUND AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE RICH.. BUT ALL THE BIGGEST MONEY WENT IN HUGE BUSINESS OPERATIONS ABROAD TO MAKE A FEW MEN INMENSELY RICH, ALL THIS AT OUR RISK…
AND NOW THE NATION HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS MAFIA´S MISTAKES
I THINK ICELANDERS WILL HANG THEM ALL!!
“Gus seems to be having mood swings”
Gus has hit all the extremes during his time here, arrogant, boastful, fantasist, philosopher, pacifist, keyboard hero of the violent overthrow revolution (complete with sharp edge guillotine justice).
I hope he can have some nice quiet time with his mother, she may have a calming influence on him.
Gus seems to be having mood swings. Stay positive Gus its the best way.
Inciting violence isn’t.
>Meanwhile, the Progressive Party’s new leader Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson has offered his party up as the minority partner in a new coalition with the Left Green Party and the Social Democrats (one of the two current coalition parties).
As to is this kind of political opportunism that makes people crazy and sinks support for political parties.
What can I say about Framsóknarflokkurinn, they are classic example of it. No one except a few trust them any more because no principals whatever.
By changing to pro-EU and this attempt at alliance they show that. Forgetting of course that Left Green are against EU.
Have Framsóknarflokkurinn learned nothing from that council musical chairs with four Mayors in just two years for Reykjavík?
At least Ingibjörg Sólrún showed some principals by exluding such action a month or two ago and also yesterday in call with Geir.
And politicians like Ágúst Ólafur and Lúdvík that do their work like this should move to Italy where the people welcome politicians like that. Its ridicolous.
Fishy,
Your assement of the silent majority reminds me of President Nixon infamous statement of the “silent majority supporting him” during the Vietnam Conflict (note it was not a War), I think many of us know how that one turned out in history.
The Independence Party has not show much leadership in the economic crisis and if you think hard about it, it would not wise of the Social Democrats to help their partner in government as they were in opposition when the policies put in place created the banking failure.
As for your comments of the “rule of the mob”
very much agree it is not an Icelandic trait to resort to such things.
Yet, if you look at what happen in Riga, Latvia a week ago new elections will be held shortly due to such civil action. It’s insightful a former communist Baltic nation is more democratic than Iceland currently is.
I see throwing stones at police officers are also part of your revolutionary mandate GUS. The police are in the same boat as everyone else. They don’t earn a great salary and they too are feeling the effects of inflation. They’re just doing their job and this warrants having rocks thrown at them. I can’t see how you justify this.
And please for heavens sake fix your capslock key.
>BROOMLEY YOU ARE TOTALLY RIDICULOUS BY SUPORTING THIS GOVERNMENT OF CRIMINALS AND BEING AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF ICELAND.
Um, no Gus, you’re totally ridiculous, so there :) .
Now if you want to address the points that I raised I’ll talk with you, but otherwise it seems a bit pointless.
>but is the Prime Minister not aware his nation has not had an effective government for well over 100 days?
Some posts here bordering on the absurd that was one of them.
That the government is currently unpopular with a segment of population is hardly a surprise but not the same thing.
As so far the leaders of Social Democrats have not shown to be unstrustable opportunuists and not broken current coalition, machinery of government continus.
That some 2000-3000 people took part in the protests is significant but does not signify end of Icelandic republic.
Silent majority of Icelanders take a civil view of life and liberty. And lets hope will vote for more decentralized control than current system.
Resolve though is clearly to get on with life. Professional angry “protesters” go to far will be arrested and god help if serious injuries or death from this.
Then you will find out exactly what silent majority of people think about such action and those inciting.
Thugs will be arrested go to court get prison sentencs to reflect harm done to person of other human beings.
The rule of mobs and thugs is not something of civil society. This is not Russia 1917. Some may think so but it is not.
CORRECTION, WELL, THEY HEAR, BUT THEY DON´T LISTEN!!!
BROOMLEY YOU ARE TOTALLY RIDICULOUS BY SUPORTING THIS GOVERNMENT OF CRIMINALS AND BEING AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF ICELAND.
ICELANDERS HAVE REACHED THIS POINT BECAUSE OF A NEGLIGENT GOVERMENT THAT DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR THE NATION. SO WAKE UP BROOMLEY…
IT IS 12.00 THE 22ND OF JANUARY 2009 AND A REVOLUTION IS GOING ON, WHEREVER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
IT IS NOT ABOUT DOING THIS ANYTIME A GOVERMENT MAKES SOME MISTAKES… THIS KIND OF MISTAKES AND THIS KIND OF GOVERN CANNOT BE ALLOWED.
LETS PUT THINGS ON THEIR PLACE BROOMLEY
Hm, the Prime Minister of Icealand is worried about not having an effective government should a call for early elections become a reality.
To be fair, I’m some distance from the current events of Iceland but is the Prime Minister not aware his nation has not had an effective government for well over 100 days?
As an aside, The leadership of the Progressive Party must be playing that old Icelandic trick of “out of sight, out of mind.” The Progressive Party is just as gulity as the Independence Party for the non-transparent deregulation of Iceland’s banking sector that created the current crisis.
>If the police can use tear gas, where is the respect for human right???
What human right? The right to do whatever you want?
If they didn’t use tear gas then they’d have to either use physical violence or let the protesters through. The latter would not be acceptable, otherwise every time anyone disagreed with anything a government did, they’d just bring it to a standstill.
So it’s broken bones or pepper spray. Actually, a better option would be barriers to keep the protest away from the doors, but they’re not doing that for some reason.
Here a special number on all Nordic countries of a journal with an article on Icelandic political culture and the political situation In Iceland before the crisis:
http://www.bpb.de/files/FMCMXZ.pdf
http://www.das-parlament.de/2004/47/beilage/005.html
If the police can use tear gas, where is the respect for human right???
Tear gas and pepper spray can be sprayed from small hand-held dispensers or large fire-extinguisher size tanks. Tear gas is most commonly deployed via canisters, which are fired into crowds, sometimes directly at people.
Tips for the protesters :-
> wear comfortable, protective shoes that you can run in.
>clothing which covers most of your skin to protect from the tear gas spray exposure.
>Wear shatter-resistant eye protection ie: sunglasses, swim goggles, or gas mask.
>wear gas mask or goggles paired with a respirator or bandanna to protect you.
>wear weather-related gear (i.e.: rain gear).
>wear heavy-duty gloves if you plan to handle hot tear gas canisters.
> make sure you have fresh clothes in plastic bag (in case yours get contaminated).
Shame on Icelandic police for using tear gas on protesters!!!!….they wish they will keep mute. Any Icelander that is scared to voice his / her opinion at this point is a chicken head!!