Posts Tagged ‘Politicians’
Monday, September 20th, 2010
An Icelander who has moved abroad sent a letter to former minister of social affairs Arni Pall Arnason and Althingi MP’s.
I like his style, the letter is titled “You Can Keep This Junk” (excerpts from Pressan.is):
I have paid all my debts religiously from the first day of the collapse. I have had enough of this society which you are taking part in creating and have moved abroad with my family. We are both college-educated and had good jobs in Iceland and there was nothing to indicate that we were about to lose them. Still we decided to get away when we saw the direction things were heading.
Those who robbed us of all our belongings still walk around and get their debts written off like there is no tomorrow but we have to pay all the unfair debts surrounding us and assume the price hikes due to the inflation which is the consequence of the business genius of these same robbers.
As the title of my letter indicates, I am seriously considering stopping paying for this bank-robbery and you can keep this house which I am supposed to “own” in Iceland, everything else has been taken away anyways.
Where I live today I have it good. I have a good salary and a great job. What is most important is that here they handle criminals the way they ought to, and impotent politicians take responsibility for their work.
It would never be tolerated that a minister would hire his friend to a position, but then it would turn out that the friend has left behind him scorched earth wherever he has tread, gets hundreds of millions written off and jumps away from the job after one day. The minister and his friend then to appear in front of the nation to shovel more dirt onto the heap to hide the crap which has already begun building up.
No thank you and good luck with this endless comedy you so enjoy playing. For the love of God, keep acting like clowns because otherwise there will be no material for Spaugstofan and Aramotaskaupid (comedy shows).
Related posts:
- Morgunbladid Drawing The Line?
- Why whales?
- Pigs are flying
Tags: Althingi, Arnason, Bank Robbery, Belongings, Clowns, Collapse, Criminals, Debts, Excerpts, Genius, Good Luck, Heap, Inflation, Left Behind, Pall, Politicians, Price Hikes, Robbers, Shovel, Social Affairs
Posted in Iceland, Market | No Comments »
Saturday, May 1st, 2010
The biggest change in support in this weeks Iceland Gallup poll is for the Independence Party; but leader Bjarni Benediktsson told reporters he was not surprised. The recent banking crisis report had a foreseeable effect, he said, and it will take time to win people’s trust again.
After increasing in popularity in every opinion poll since the autumn, the Independence Party have now dropped six points to 28 percent – the same as the Left Greens who add four percent.
The Social Democrats are up two percent on 23 percent support and the Progressive party add a point and are on 14 percent.
There have been calls for fresh elections in some quarters and Bjarni Benediktsson says he would welcome such a move despite the slump in Independence Party support: his is still the biggest party in Iceland.
There has been prominent discussion of the support given from Icelandic banks and companies to politicians in the run up to the banking collapse but Benediktsson reiterated that
all his MPs are working hard to be totally transparent, to regain public trust and to maintain the good name of their party.
Tags: Autumn, Banking Crisis, Biggest Party, Bjarni, Collapse, Crash Report, Crisis Report, Democrats, Gallup Poll, Greens, Independence Party, Mps, Opinion Poll, Politicians, Popularity, Progressive Party, Public Trust, Quarters, Six Points, Slump
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Saturday, April 17th, 2010
New rules are being called for across Danish City Councils to deal with what are seen as increasingly problematic street vendors.
In Denmark, registering with a local council is currently all that street vendors are required to do in order to begin selling. However, under a new proposal, all vendors will be required to pay an annual fee of DKK 4,550 (USD 812) for a numbered license plate that must be displayed while trading. These plates would also limit the street seller to a certain location.
Chairman of the Committee of City Councils, Bent Lohmann, said that problems caused by uncontrolled street vendors needed addressing, reports Politiken.
“It’s a bigger problem than you think,” said Lohmann. “‘There are so many street traders that they are fighting over who ‘owns’ what space. An annual fee will reduce their numbers. After all, when you look at how good their sales are then who can’t afford 4550 kroner”.
Lohmann also argued that shopkeepers have joined politicians in calling for action to be taken against street vendors. Many say they have been undermined by street vendors selling cut-price goods such as fruit, bottled water and coffee on the street.
“These street traders don’t respect the fact that shopkeepers have to pay rent and there are concerns that they are stealing their customers,” said Lohmann.
Tags: Bottled Water, City Councils, Coffee, Danish City, Denmark, Kroner, License Plate, Local Council, Politicians, Proposal, Street Traders, Street Vendors
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Of the list of ten Althingi members who received loans of over ISK 100 million from the beginning of 2005 until the banks collapsed, which was published in the SIC report on Monday, seven were members of the Independence Party.
Tags: 100 Million, Banks, Crisis Report, Iceland, Independence Party, Loans, Members, Politicians, Sic
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Below is a list of those politicians, investors and bankers who have accepted responsibility for their part in the economic crash in Iceland after the publishing of the Special Investigation Committee’s Report.
1. Bjorgolfur Thor apologized to the Icelandic nation in an open letter in Frettabladid April 14, 2010.
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Related posts:
- EU Question List Just About Ready
- Consumer Social Responsibility Needed
- Apology Accepted But Let’s Talk About This Bonus System Thing
Tags: Apology, April 14, Bonus System, Economic Crash, Frettabladid, Iceland, Investigation Committee, Investors, Politicians, Social Responsibility, Thor
Posted in Iceland, Market | No Comments »
Monday, April 12th, 2010
Lack of respect towards normal and healthy ways of doing business within the business sector, especially the banks.
Politicians who did not understand or want to confront reality.
Special interests over national interests.
Just what we have been talking about in the last 18 months.
English translations available here.
Before writing about the report I need to read it. Unfortunately, I’ve got project deadlines at the university this week but I will get to it.
Related posts:
- Landsbankinn Praised For Best Annual Report 2007
- No Committee Has Ever Had To Bring Its Nation Such Bad News
- Delayed
Tags: Annual Report, Bad News, Banks, Business Sector, Doing Business, English Translations, Investigation Committee, Lack Of Respect, National Interests, Politicians, Project Deadlines, Special Interests, Writing Report
Posted in Iceland, Market | No Comments »
Monday, April 12th, 2010
Lack of respect towards normal and healthy ways of doing business within the business sector, especially the banks.
Politicians who did not understand or want to confront reality.
Special interests over national interests.
Just what we have been talking about in the last 18 months.
English translations available here.
Before writing about the report I need to read it. Unfortunately, I’ve got project deadlines at the university this week but I will get to it.
Related posts:
- No Committee Has Ever Had To Bring Its Nation Such Bad News
- Landsbankinn Praised For Best Annual Report 2007
- The Special Report – Bits & Pieces
Tags: Annual Report, Bad News, Banks, Business Sector, Doing Business, English Translations, Investigation Committee, Lack Of Respect, National Interests, Politicians, Project Deadlines, Special Interests, Writing Report
Posted in Iceland, Market | No Comments »
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
As news broke that Greek Credit Default Swaps (the cost of insuring international debt against default) have risen sharply, the international press quickly found out that it had risen above Iceland’s CDS level and turned it into a global “wow” story.
The fact that Greek CDS levels went higher than Iceland’s yesterday actually has no real significance and Icelandic politicians and bankers have not been stupid enough to suggest that this has happened because of anything Iceland has done right: the difference is far more about Greek numbers rising than it is about Iceland falling.
However, the fact that Greece has not topped Iceland’s CDS levels in five years and the fact that a slightly reduced Icelandic CDS has at least contributed to the “wow” event is slightly heartening for those at the top.
As Greek banks are forced to request more assistance as the cost of insuring debt continues to rocket, Iceland’s already-decimated banks are having an ever-so-slightly easier time. But all things are relative, of course.
By Alex Elliott, IceNews editor
Tags: Alex, Credit Default Swaps, Greece News, Greek Banks, Greek Cds, Greek Numbers, Iceland News, International Debt, Politicians, Wow
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
Secret documents about Icelandic Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir, Foreign Minister Össur Skarphédinsson and former Icelandic Ambassador to the US Albert Jónsson that were kept at the United States Department of State were recently leaked to WikiLeaks.
Tags: Ambassador, Department Of State, Foreign Minister, Politicians, Prime Minister, Secret Documents, United States Department, United States Department Of State
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Monday, March 29th, 2010
Icelandic newspaper DV has been sold to a group of investors including its own joint editor.
DV.is reports that a group of investors passionate about independent and unaffiliated media has bought DV and DV.is from the Birtingur publishing house, owned by Hreinn Loftsson. A new limited company, DV ehf., has been established with enough capital to support the paper during the continued temporary recession in the advertising market.
The new company will ensure that owners’ influence on editorial content is unusually low – and part of this ethos is illustrated by a rule forbidding any single shareholder to hold more than 26 percent of the board’s vote, regardless of number of shares held. A clearer distinction between company management and editors has been put in place and a larger majority will now be needed to change important rules.
The change in DV’s ownership will take place on 1st April. The two editors Reynir Traustsson and Jon Trausti Reynisson and their current writing staff will remain and Reynir Traustsson is now one of the two largest owners. The other is Lilja Skaftadottir, an art dealer who lives in Iceland and France and has little previous experience in the Icelandic business market.
DV.is reports that a comprehensive list of shareholders will be published after Easter and that it will be available online as well.
DV is Iceland’s oldest surviving newspaper which has had a large succession of different owners and has been on the brink of bankruptcy since the 1990s. It is, however, doing comparatively well at the moment, with many in Iceland saying it has been the only newspaper willing to conduct real investigative journalism against implicated politicians and businessmen.
Tags: 1990s, Art Dealer, Bankruptcy, Brink, Business Market, Businessmen, Company Management, Distinction, Dv, Editorial Content, Editors, Ehf, Investigative Journalism, Limited Company, List Of Shareholders, Politicians, Publishing House, Recession, Shareholder, Succession
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
After the almost unanimous no on the Icesave-law everyone wants to interpret the result to his liking. A Dutch reporter says: “Icelandic voters vented their fury on Saturday at the bankers and politicians who ruined their economy.”
Tags: Economy, Icesave, Liking, Politicians
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
The British government has requested further talks with Iceland’s negotiators over the Icesave issue. The British want to come to a deal that will stop next Saturday’s referendum on the December deal going ahead.
Following the unsuccessful talks which ended on Thursday with the British and Dutch, the Icelandic team intended to travel home on Friday but British authorities wanted them to stay. It was decided that a part of the team, including Lee Buchheit, would stay in London. Negotiators Gudmundur Arnason and Larus Blondal arrived in Iceland on Friday but returned to London again yesterday.
British and Icelandic representatives met yesterday and intend to continue their talks today.
According to Visir.is, the British are making a concerted last minute effort to stop the Icelandic public voting in Saturday’s referendum on a loan deal agreed by parliament in December. Senior civil servants and politicians in London fear the expected ‘No’ vote could prove a dangerous precedent to other countries in financial difficulties. They do not want the general public to be able to decide matters of national debt, Visir reports.
Dutch officials are not at this weekend’s meetings, as the Netherlands is currently being governed by a caretaker administration with little or no real power to negotiate international treaties.
If the Icelanders and British are able to hammer out a deal though, it is considered likely the Dutch would also accept it.
Tags: Arnason, Blondal, British Authorities, British Government, British Stage, Buchheit, Caretaker, Dangerous Precedent, Dutch Officials, Financial Difficulties, International Treaties, Larus, Loan Deal, Minute Effort, National Debt, Negotiators, Parliament, Politicians, Referendum, Senior Civil Servants
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Friday, February 26th, 2010
From Why Washington is Tied Up in Knots?
With these acts of legislative sabotage, Republicans tapped into a deep truth about the American people: they hate political squabbling, and they take out their anger on whoever is in charge. So when the Gingrich Republicans carried out a virtual sit-down strike during Clinton’s first two years, the public mood turned nasty. By 1994, trust in government was at an all-time low, which suited the Republicans fine, since their major line of attack against Clinton’s health care plan was that it would empower government. Clintoncare collapsed, Democrats lost Congress, and Republicans learned the secrets of vicious-circle politics: When the parties are polarized, it’s easy to keep anything from getting done. When nothing gets done, people turn against government. When you’re the party out of power and the party that reviles government, you win.
From Time.com
Combine this with the Independence Party’s new emphasis on recruiting 16-20 year old voters (young enough to not know what’s been going on) and we might have a polarized future ahead.
Related posts:
- Sailing Carelessly Through Unchartered Waters: The Absence Of Risk In Icelandic Business And Politics
- IceSave: Really About Domestic Politics In Iceland – UK & Netherlands
- Priorities Of Icelandic Politicians
Tags: Absence, Acts, All Time Low, Anger, Congress, Democrats, Domestic Politics, Gingrich, Health Care Plan, Independence Party, Knots, Netherlands, Politicians, Priorities, Public Mood, Republicans, Sabotage, Squabbling, Unchartered Waters, Vicious Circle
Posted in Iceland, Market | No Comments »
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Around 1,300 people have already voted in Reykjavik in the Icesave referendum as they live overseas or will be unavailable next Saturday. Everyone else in Iceland has to wait a further nine days until the polling stations open.
Absentee voters are also casting their ‘yes’ or ‘no’ votes at district commissioners’ offices around the country. There are 230,014 people registered to vote in the referendum.
Despite some politicians’ hopes that renegotiation of the Icesave deal would get in the way, it now seem highly likely the referendum will go ahead as planned with polls consistently suggesting the December law will be rejected by voters.
An information booklet on the referendum will be delivered to every house in Iceland and information can also be found on www.thjodaratkvaedi.is, RUV reports.
Tags: Absentee Voters, Ahead, District Commissioners, Iceland Information, Icesave, Information Booklet, Nine Days, Politicians, Polling Stations, Polls, Referendum, Renegotiation, Reykjavik, Vote
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
There are differing opinions between Iceland’s government and opposition on how to proceed with this weekend’s counter offer on Icesave repayments received jointly from the Netherlands and the UK. This is the opinion of Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, the leader of the Progressive Party, interviewed immediately after last night’s meeting of all party leaders.
The leaders of both government parties and all parliamentary opposition parties met to discuss the details of the revised repayment proposal received in Reykjavik on Saturday. Gunnlaugsson told reporters the offer is not exactly in line with what was discussed by negotiators from the three countries in London last week.
The latest move from by London and The Hague is said to have taken the Icelandic authorities somewhat by surprise, as options other than a loan to Iceland were being discussed last week, Gunnlaugsson said.
While a response is expected this week, it is unlikely that Iceland will formally reply to the offer today.
Tags: Authorities, Government Parties, Hague, London, Negotiators, Netherlands, Opposition Parties, Parliamentary Opposition, Party Leaders, Politicians, Progressive Party, Repayment Proposal, Repayments, Reykjavik, Surprise
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Reykjavik’s City Theatre has been invited to send its new play to the Wiesbaden International Theatre Festival in Germany.
Borgarleikhusid, one of Reykjavik’s biggest theatres, has been invited to send its new play to the tenth Wiesbaden contemporary theatre festival, which will be held in June. The play is called Godir Islendingar (Good Icelanders), which roughly corresponds to the much-used American Phrase “My Fellow Americans”. The play was premiered about a month ago in Reykjavik.
The Wiesbaden festival is one of the most respected of its type and introduces the best modern drama to an international audience. An average of 30 plays are shown at the festival from countries all over Europe.
All plays are performed in their original language with live German translation. According to RUV, the festival also includes conferences and symposia with playwrights, translators, critics, academics and politicians, among others.
(Pictures: borgarleikhus.is)
Tags: Academics, City Theatre, Conferences, Contemporary Theatre, Europe, Fellow Americans, German Translation, Germany, International Audience, International Theatre Festival, Modern Drama, Phrase, Playwrights, Politicians, Reykjavik, Symposia, Wiesbaden
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Members of the Icelandic government and the opposition met this morning to further discuss the Icesave issue.
The country’s Minister of Finance, Steingrimur J. Sigfusson, told RUV he believes a united position is about to be reached between all parties – a key requirement of the British and Dutch authorities before any renegotiation can take place.
Sigfusson explained that the next step is to telephone British and Dutch government members and also to use the help of the New York-based lawyer Lee Buchheit, who arrived in Iceland today. Other financial experts from Canada are also expected as advisers to the Icelandic government.
Tags: Buchheit, Canada, Dutch Authorities, Dutch Government, Financial Experts, Government Members, Lawyer, Minister Of Finance, Opposition, Politicians, Renegotiation
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Bill Clinton yesterday told Icelandic president Olafur Ragnar Grimsson that he talks positively about Iceland almost everywhere he goes. The pair met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Olafur Ragnar Grimsson says he is generating goodwill towards Iceland and its economic situation from politicians and businesspeople from all over the world, Visir.is reports.
Grimsson is in regular contact with Bill Clinton and has many business and political contacts globally and may be trying to recruit Clinton as a potential mediator in the Icesave issue.
Tags: Bill Clinton, Businesspeople, Davos Switzerland, Economic Situation, Goodwill, Iceland, Mediator, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Politicians, World Economic Forum
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »
Friday, January 29th, 2010
Three Icelandic politicians, including Finance Minister Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, traveled to the Netherlands yesterday to discuss the situation of the Icesave agreement with representatives of the British and Dutch governments at a meeting in The Hague.
Tags: Dutch Governments, Finance Minister, Hague, Netherlands, Politicians
Posted in Iceland | No Comments »