The Danish Socialist People’s Party (SF) has called for measures to prevent terrorism through a ban on surfing the internet for inspiration.
Bomb building manuals and videos from terrorist organisations are both readily available to download on the internet—which the popular left wing political party wants equated with child pornography, reports The Copenhagen Post.
The suggestion for the internet prohibition was made by SF in the wake of the attack at the home of Kurt Westergaard, the controversial Mohammed cartoonist. In that incident, a 28-year-old man from Somalia broke into Westergaard’s home armed with an axe and knife and threatened the artist. The man was already under minimal surveillance by PET, the Danish national intelligence agency, due to previous alleged connections to terrorist networks.
Other political parties in Denmark including the Social Democrats, the Danish People’s Party and the governing Liberal Party have all previously made calls for greater powers of deportation for authorities in cases of suspected terrorists, but SF has asked for intervention at an earlier stage.
“Just like we don’t allow people to surf the internet for child porn, we shouldn’t let people download bomb recipes or videos of beheadings,” said Karina Lorentzen, SF’s legal spokesperson. “Denmark should not be a home for people planning terrorism and we must therefore intervene early against people who are in the process of being radicalised,” Lorentzen stated.
MPs from both ruling parties, the Social Democrats and the Left-Greens, are keen on attempting renegotiation with the UK and the Netherlands on Icesave. The Icelandic government and the opposition parties are trying to reach an agreement on the matter.
“Maybe this is our new version of democracy, Facebook democracy?” - Kristjan Gretarsson, on Facebook in a discussion on InDefence style petitions.
“I have mixed feelings about this. It has never been the Independence Party’s demand that the government should resign because of this issue, only that it would get a fair treatment. “ - Bjarni Benediktsson, Independence Party MP
“Let’s end this endless thing. Let’s approve the IceSave bill” - Mordur Arnason, former Social Democrat MP
“I assume that the Central Bank will not be on the receiving end of more currency for a while. The Nordic countries want Iceland to pay IceSave. The US doesn’t care about Iceland, because their army base isn’t there anymore, and Russia refuses to lend us money. Iceland has no friends abroad except for the Faroe Islands. We will possibly be downgraded to junk categories everywhere and receive no loans from abroad. It is a bad situation which we find ourselves in because of you idiots and the president. We live on foreign trade first and foremost and are dependant on good relations with foreign countries. With a mad crowd at home and a demagogue in Bessastadir, we find ourselves up against the wall.” - Jonas Kristjansson, former editor
“Olafur Ragnar Grimsson says he is convinced that his refusal to sign the bill will lead to unity within the nation. That might be wishful thinking. But what options does the government have, except for resigning?” - Egill Helgason, television host
“Men of the year, InDefence” - Einar Bardarson, radio owner and radio-show host
“Thanks Oli – we owe U 1. Darling & Brown” - Dofri Hermannsson, Social Democrats tells of an SMS being passed on in Iceland
“It just doesn’t work anymore that we have three legislative bodies operating at the same time: one in the government cabinet, one at Austurvollur (Althingi) and the third at Bessastadir (president’s residence). This is ridiculous.” - Grimur Atlason, Left Greens
“I am having a happy fit. I started crying during the speech.” - Birgitta Jonsdottir, Movement MP
“Islandsbanki’s analysts say that the reaction in the markets reflect investors expecting a lower cut in Central Bank interest rates at the end of January, the likelyhood of the next IMF review being postponed and that is more likely than not that the government’s financial ratings will be lowered. “ - VB.is The Icelandic Business Paper
“I cannot see how he could have reached any other conclusion” - Ogmundur Jonasson, Left Green MP
“I look forward to discussing with every person I meet what is exactly said in the official paper #29 and how to interpret the ECOFIN meeting. Is Iceland responsible or not? Are the interest rates acceptable in light of the European Central Bank’s interest rates? Could the people who saved with IceSave know that they were taking a risk and therefore should take the hit themselves? And since we are doing this, should we maybe also take on the accounts on the Isle of Man and Guernsey, which neither the Icelandic or British government seem to want to be responsible for. But no, nobody dares think that we are fighting for justice, just Icelandic interests.” - Silja Bara Omarsdottir, professor political studies University of Iceland
“An extremely curious sentence in the president’s statement on IceSave: “statements made in Althingi and messages which the president has received from individual MP’s show that there is a majority in Althingi for a referendum”. Such a proposition was made in Althingi. It was voted on and it was rejected. Can this be counted as an argument for a national referendum? You would expect these MP’s to be responsible with their votes and it cannot be accepted as normal that the president of the republic takes it upon himself to recount votes which have already been cast in Althingi” - Gudmundur Svanur Runarsson – blogger
“No comment, I stepped aside and I am not going to enter this dance for now. “ - Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, former Social Democrat leader
“If the referendum will conclude in rejection of the IceSave bill, the government seems to have two options. To retract the bill or resign. Otherwise it will be in opposition with its nation which must be a horrible situation for any government” - Eirikur Bergmann, professor Bifrost University
“I am very happy with this conclusion and I think it was the most preferable. It will hopefully cancel out the societal rift which had occurred because of it. The president’s veto is a victory for democracy and I think he reached this sensible conclusion after careful consideration. I cannot be anything other than happy with the president.” - Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, Progressive Party Chairman
“It seems we are headed into another year of rage. Icelanders are beyond any hope. Aren’t you all sick and tired of this already? We are only 300.000 people and this recession could easily be beat if people stood together irrelevant of parties and rage. But everyone is always up against everyone else. Aren’t we first and foremost Icelanders and then something else?” - Thorkell Mani Petursson, radio host
“I wonder how many % of the nation are knowledgeable enough about this issue to vote in a national referendum?” - Maria Arnadottir, in a Facebook discussion
“The president’s personal ambitions probably guided him in this decision. He does not want to be remembered as the cheerleader of the businessmen who bankrupted the country. He also enjoys the limelight.” - Hannes Holmsteinn Gissurarson, professor at University of Iceland, once convicted for copyright infringement
“It is obvious that those who celebrate now are responsible for the poverty which they are enforcing on the Icelandic nation” - Jon Frimann Jonsson, blogger
“Olafur Ragnar was becoming of the great responsibility bestowed upon him. There is a canyon between the parliament and its nation but the president has found its nation and the nation has found its president. There is no canyon there. The president has sided with the nation.” - Olafur Arnarsson, author and blogger
“The nature of this issue is that these are negotiations between nations. You simply cannot conduct talks with national referendums. Should the next conclusion then also be put into a national referendum and then again and again? These sort of issues must be concluded within the democratic parliament. It is hard enough to conduct negotiations with a parliament, let alone a whole nation.” - Vilhjalmur Thorsteinsson, investor, Social Democrat
“The man in Bessastadir has shown complete irresponsibility with his veto. The government must resign, the country will be anarchic in the name and the parties which caused the collapse will get back to power. With the FL Group sponsored Independence Party at the reins, no one responsible for the economic crash will be punished, except those which are not agreeable to the party. In addition, a fight is on with the Dutch and the Brits which will make the cod wars seem miniscule. This will also be a cod war of sorts, one started by the behaviour of people who act like cods on dry land. God help this doomed country.” Stefan Snaevarr, professor University of Lillehammer
“I send my condolences to 30% of the nation because of this argument which the majority has now decided to amplify and continue with, and in the process delaying any rebuilding in Iceland. It is useless now to scream at politicians in dire times. The nation has now, taken all the responsibility of what lies ahead. Everything which follows is thanks to 70% of Icelanders , and InDefence of course.” - Baldur McQueen, blogger
The thirty year old male raged about Johanna Sigurdardottir and called her the “worst Prime Minister Iceland has ever had”.
And this is someone who is to the left politically.
Her shortcomings according to this disgruntled voter was that she is never seen or heard. In a time of great peril to the nation she doesn’t “lead” the nation like a “leader should”. For example, she should just have hammered the IceSave bill through Althingi.
And that is the legacy of the perceived “strong leader” which David Oddson’s career as PM has left us with. A misguided reliance on “strong managers”, in other words attention seeking bullies.
From a realistic standpoint it seems as if Johanna really didn’t want to be still in politics. But she is there because she was the only one who could lead the Social Democrats. They like the Independence Party have suffered from an over-reliance on a “strong manager” for the last decade or so. What they tend to leave behind is a scorched earth, where only “yes people” and mediocrity survive in the shadow of their overbearing personality. Sensible people, future leaders opt out. That is why the Independence Party ended up with Geir Haarde and Bjarni Benediktsson first amongst people like Petur Blondal, Birgir Armannsson, Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson and Illugi Gunnarsson (women are not required to lead the Independence Party). If Johanna hadn’t ran, then the Social Democrats would have had Ossur Skarphedinsson, Arni Pall Arnason and Katrin Juliusdottir spearheading their campaign. No, Johanna was vital to a successful campaign from the left and she has remained the glue that keeps the inadequate pieces together.
The consequences are both good and bad. The good news is that in Johanna’s government, the ministers are in a much stronger position individually than David Oddson’s lapdogs ever were. Ogmundur Jonasson’s hissy fits would not have been made public in the secret chambers of David’s governments. Opinions of others than the leader are aired in the open, with consequences for those who hold them of course. The flip side is that Steingrimur J. comes off as the one holding the reins, and while he is taking the fight on issues like IceSave and budget cuts, the Social Democratic ministers have dropped some important balls, like Arni Pall Arnason regarding household debts, Katrin Juliusdottir on the Verne Holding issue and Kristjan Moller on building bridges and tunnels to nowhere.
I for one don’t miss the “strong management” style of Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir and David Oddson in Icelandic politics. Good leaders allow others to blossom around them, and all they seemed to grow was weed. It would be good to hear less cries for stronger leaders and more demands for a strong nation with a fit government.
The Independence Party is now the most popular in Reykjavik, according to the latest Gallup poll.
Iceland’s Independence Party received 39 percent support, while 34 percent of respondents said they would vote for the Social Democrats. The Left Green Movement came next with 21 percent and the Progressive Party polled four percent.
The Independence Party therefore gained one percentage point since the last poll and has regained strength to levels last seen in spring 2008.
The Social Democrats have been on the downswing in recent opinion polls and lost one percent on their showing in July. Their Left Green coalition partners on the other hand, have added four percent to their popularity since last time. Support for the Progressive Party has been volatile and their current level of support represents a two percent drop from July.
6,000 people were asked to take part in the survey and 70 percent accepted.
The City of Helsinki Board has voted 8-6 in favour of introducing congestion charges for the Finnish capital. The decision was made after the proposal had earlier been rejected twice, with a heated – if short – debate preceding the announcement.
The Left Alliance, the Social Democrat Party, the Green League and the Centre Party all supported the idea, while opponents included The National Coalition Party and the Swedish People’s Party. Arto Bryggare of the Social Democrats abstained from voting.
Deputy chair of the board, the Green League’s Mari Puoskari, said the decision was historic. “For the first time in history, the City of Helsinki is taking a positive stand on congestion charging. This was a very significant decision,” Puoskari claimed.
The City Board will look to the Ministry of Transport and Communications to undertake the new legislation preparations. Several specifications were incorporated in the decision, including stipulations that the region’s public transport network should be allocated funding from the newly collected finances.
“The legislation relating to congestion charges should define that Helsinki Region Transport (HSL), the new municipal transport authority that will begin operating from 1 January 2010, will have the right to collect such charges,” Puoskari said. ”Then the collected funds would not flow to the provinces. If the proposed congestion charges reduce the use of private cars, while increasing the use of public transport, we will need funds to develop our public transport system,” she added.
However, the decision was not met with such a warm welcome by the National Coalition Party’s City Board Chairman Risto Rautava. ”In my view, this was one of the most idiotic decisions made during this autumn. Expressly the decision to ask the ministry to initiate preparations for new legislation on the basis of an insufficient study,” he argued.
Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson – Progressive Party 1. Defend the interests of father’s friends and Progressive Party fat cats.
2. Stall an IceSave solution as long as possible to make political opponents look bad.
3. Have lunch.
4. Make sure that the Progressive Party “owns” a special green room at Althingi.
5. Have dinner
6. Regularly cause a scene through bizarre fits.
7. Be in the media as much as possible.
8. Blame the foreigners.
.
100. Defend the interests of the Icelandic public.
Bjarni Benediktsson – Independence Party 1. Defend the interests of family’s friends and Independence Party fat cats.
2. Try to ignore David Oddson.
3. Pretend to be leader of the Independence Party.
4. Be against everything he was for 11 months ago.
5. Ask nation to please look forward, not backwards.
6. Blame everybody else.
7. Try to ignore David Oddson.
8. Blame the foreigners.
.
100. Defend the interests of the Icelandic public.
Johanna Sigurdardottir – Social Democrats 1. Regret lost chance of retirement.
2. Defend the interests of Social Democratic, Independence Party and Progressive Party fat cats.
3. Fruitless search for other leadership candidates within own party.
4. Clean up mess from others party.
5. Scold misbehaving little kids from Progressive Party.
6. Ask PR rep to address nation.
7. Avoid appearances to calm nation.
8. Defend the interest of Icelandic public.
Steingrimur J. Sigfusson – Left Greens 1. Clean up mess from others party.
2. Defend the interests of Independence Party, Progressive Party and Social Dem fat cats.
3. Defend the interests of capital owners.
4. Attempt to keep Ogmundur Jonasson heavily sedated.
5. Remind people who is really to blame for the mess.
6. Address nation like it is stupid and too demanding.
7. Help banks and bankers get back on their feet.
8. Defend the interests of Icelandic public.
Thor Saari – The Citizens’ Movement / The Movement 1. Cheat voters.
2. Break promises.
3. Be against everything.
4. Act like everyone else is stupid.
5. Buy Sudoku puzzles for Margret Tryggvadottir.
6. Love the attention.
7. Talk with behind.
8. Come up with bad policy suggestions.
9. Defend the interests of Icelandic …oh, who are we kidding?
(Updated 17.24 GMT) The Progressive Party in Iceland believes Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir is deliberately trying to block a potential massive loan to the country from Norway completely unconnected to the IMF package. The Prime Minister described the allegations as preposterous.
Members of the Progressive Party met with Norwegian parliamentarians earlier in the week to discuss, among other things, the idea of Norway lending Iceland a sizeable chunk of money. The amount under discussion is up to NOK 100 billion, which is ISK 2,200 billion.
Representatives of the Norwegian Centre Party, one of three members of the coalition government and sister party to the Progressives in Iceland, are said to be enthusiastic about the idea. The Labour Party of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is, however, less enthusiastic.
Johanna Sigurdardottir sent Stoltenberg a letter on Monday asking if such a loan would likely be offered to Iceland. Stoltenberg responded on Thursday saying that it is not likely. The issue has not been discussed within the Norwegian government.
Sigurdardottir told Visir.is is that Stoltenberg’s letter was categorical. “It was made clear that the Norwegians are well-intentioned towards us, but their official position remains that the money they loan Iceland will be part of the Nordic loan offered within the IMF package and they do not intend to change that,” she said.
Leader of the opposition Progressive Party, Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson accused Sigurdardottir of having asked for such a response from Stoltenberg. He said that the Norwegian Labour Party was looking to her Social Democrats for support in the issue and would be guided by them in its position. But as the Social Democrats wish to continue with the IMF package, the Labour Party has not offered its support to the Progressive and Centre Parties’ plan.
“That is a preposterous claim and I don’t know how they imagine I could just order up a conclusion from the Norwegian Prime Minister. Absolutely ridiculous. It is also absurd that I would try to block a condition-free loan to Iceland.”
Since this news first broke, the Icelandic Prime Minister’s office has decided to release the PM’s initial email and Stoltenberg’s response to the public. They can be viewed translated into Icelandic here, and in Norwegian by clicking the two links at the bottom of that page.
The parliamentary party of the Left-Green Movement met yesterday to discuss disagreement within the party and discontent of some MPs with the work methods of the government. The conclusion was a continued coalition with the Social Democrats.
The parliamentary group of Iceland’s Left Green Movement will meet this afternoon upon their leader, Steingrimur J. Sigfusson’s return home from the IMF annual meeting in Turkey. The meeting is being described by some as a last gasp attempt to breathe life back into the party’s coalition government with the Social Democrats.
The party’s deputy leader, Katrin Jakobsdottir confirmed that Sigfusson will attend the meeting if his flight is not delayed. She said that the continuation of the current government will almost certainly be discussed, but that she expects everybody to be in a reconciliatory mood, Eyjan.is reports.
Disquiet has been growing in the Left Green party in recent weeks and months and came to a head with last week’s resignation of Health Minister Ogmundur Jonasson. Most Green MPs remain publicly supportive of the present government however; and it is not considered likely that the rebels will gain the upper hand at today’s meeting.
Bjarni Benediktsson, chairman of the largest opposition party, the Independence Party, has requested a meeting with the leaders of the ruling parties, the Social Democrats and the Left-Greens, where their plans on the conclusion of the Icesave debate would be presented.
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has been asked by opposition parties to “draw his own conclusions” from the scandal surrounding election campaign funding, and then to resign from his post. Vanhanen has come increasingly under fire in recent weeks over claims, counter claims and confusion over the source of his campaign funding, according to NewsRoom Finland.
Mr Vanhanen has so far rejected the claims arguing that it is not necessary to dissolve parliament over election funding. Vanhanen has denied allegations that he lied over campaign funding, saying that imprecise recollections and lies were not the same thing.
The issue of election funding has long plagued Finnish politics primarily due to the lack of a ceiling cap on individual donations. Vanhanen argued that he is bearing the blame for a system which has been inefficient for years, and suggested that policy reform may be the best option.
The opposition will not launch an interpellation over the scandal, as the government will release a report on election funding next week ahead of a confidence vote. The leaders of the opposition coalition parties each voiced their opinion of Vanhanen, with Annika Lapintie of the Left Alliance calling for his resignation. The chair of the Social Democrats, Taria Filatoy claimed that the opposition had lost its confidence in the PM, while Bjarne Kallis of the Christian Democrats said Vanhanen was a liar. True Finns leader Raimo Vistbacka argued that the Centre party’s leadership had driven Finnish politics into the ground.
If the two coalition parties, the Social Democrats and the Left-Greens, are unable to reach a decision on how to progress in the Icesave matter by the end of this week their cooperation in government will automatically be terminated, Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir concluded after a cabinet meeting yesterday.
Reykjavik Energy is selling its share in HS Energy to Magma Energy for 30% down and the rest through a loan from itself with one payment which is seven years away. The interest rates are 1.5% and the collateral is … wait for it, the shares in HS Energy.
Is everyone munching crazy pills or haven’t we learned a thing?
These sort of financial shenanigans were what brought Iceland to its knees. This seems like the perfect opportunity for Magma to strip HS Energy of valuables and return a broken shell to the owners of Reykjavik Energy (the taxpayers) in seven years time.
I am familiar with someone whose wealth has been built upon micro-economic crisis’. He keeps an eye and an ear out for landowners, property owners and stockholders in trouble, personal or financial and lures their assets away when they are at their weakest for a fraction of the real value. Ross Beaty and whoever is with him behind this deal is the performing the same trick, albeit on a larger scale with the help of our desperate politicians.
Sigrun Elsa Smaradottir of the Social Democrats thinks there is reason to believe that the whole deal might actually cost Reykjavik Energy 5-6 billion ISK instead of leaving behind a profit.
Foreign investment should be welcome but it should entail actually bringing money into the country and full disclosure of who is behind the wheel. Otherwise, we are allowed to be suspicious of organized shenanigans behind the scenes, be they illegal to the letter or not.
Oh, and a bike club in Iceland has just become member of Hells Angels.
It is that sinking feeling one has had browsing through the news of the week. With each passing month from the Icelandic economic collapse, things aren’t really changing at all.
I have written before about many Icelanders clinging onto the hope that if they close their eyes long enough, everything will be just fine. And meanwhile the political and commercial landscape of Iceland is turning into a farce.
Sigmundur Ernir Runarsson, MP for the Social Democrats found his way drunk into the podium of Althingi.
If you don’t speak Icelandic and therefore don’t understand him, then don’t worry, he manages to make some sense but it is all moot because being there after a drink or two makes absolutely no sense. Neither did the outcry from Ragnheidur Rikhardsdottir, MP for the Independence Party who managed to mount the highground of the parliamentary sandbox and wonder outloud about such behavior. Then Sigmundur said that he hadn’t been drunk, then the guests of MP Bank’s golf-tournament and accompanying dinner said he had been drinking, then he admitted that he had but he “hadn’t been drunk”.
All somehow so Clintonian.
And he supposedly drove from the event down to Althingi where the opposition used the opportunity to throw him some questions, therefore exposing his idiocy. Then someone pointed out that Ragnheidur herself had on more than one occasion come to work at Althingi after a glass or two. Of course there was someone on hand to cut the speech together in a most unflattery way and post it on Youtube, proving righ the old saying that “they will hold onto power by any means necessary”. (The poster even had the gall to call himself monsterdept. which is the conspiracy name given to an invisible right-wing propaganda machine)
Sigmundur ended up apologizing. Amidst all the justification (left wing) and moral outcry (right-wing), very few have pointed out the central fact that had he been doing his job inhibriated at most other workplaces then he’d been handed his resignation. Instead, our MP’s treat their valuable chairs like they are working at a bar.
And what was Sigmundur doing chugging free drinks at a bank event anyways? Isn’t that exactly what got us into all this trouble?
What are you doing here??? Photo from RUV
Hannes Holmsteinn Gissurarson then continued his impressive track record of bad judgement by attending the massive (300 people) protest sanctioned by the Independence Party against the IceSave agreement outside parliament. Hannes’ presence promted other protesters to react accordingly and chase him into the Althingi building, a fitting sanctuary for intellectual ants.
Hannes has pinpointed where the blame for Iceland’s economic collapse lies. It is with EVERYONE…except David Oddson of course. And why wouldn’t you believe the man who sat on the board of the Central Bank while David Oddson was its Governor? And Hannes is writing a book about the whole thing so future generations can learn how to stick their heads into the sand and chant “it’s all the commies fault”. If you want a preview then you’d do worse than attend Hannes’ course on the lessons learned from the economic mess, paid for by the taxpayers through the University of Iceland. (And down the toilet goes that stated goal of becoming one of the top universities in the world)
Hannes could consult Lydur Gudmundsson, who started his career as a multi-billionaire with one phone call to Sigurdur Einarsson at Kaupthing and proceeded to lead the innovation business of throwing money out the window. In a Kastljos interview he told the nation what was really wrong with the country. Those damn bloggers, exposing, probing and asking relevant questions are the source of all evil according to the man who bought Armani’s yacht! But then again, according to Hannes Holmsteinn, Lydur isn’t a “good capitalist”, because he ain’t a card-carrying member of the Independence Party.
One who soon might be the man who carries up the credit card of the Independence Party is Ross Beaty of Magma Energy. Ross who? Magma what? He is the guy who Independence Party and Social Democratic councilmen are dying to hand over the energy rights of the Reykjanes peninsula for the next 130 years or so. It can’t be because he is bringing much needed foreign currency into the economy because he wants a loan from Reykjavik Energy to pay for it. So who is really behind the whole deal? Who is sufficiently wealthy and powerful enough to persuade Magnus Orri Schram and Skuli Helgason of the Social Democrats to gush forth the justification they’ve made in the last few days?
Could it be the same people who ran the Icelandic economy into the ground but haven’t been prosecuted or seen their assets frozen? No one knows because in “New Iceland” (a popular chant with Social Dems) just like in “Old Iceland” (i.e. the way things were that contributed to the mess) diclosure of ownership does not play a revelant part when public assets are privatized.
One hundred and thirty years? It so happens that on the very year 1879, the first mobile home saw the light of the day. It was powered by…horse.
Coincidentally, 130 years later and powered by horse-manure is the stance taken by the Progressive Party and the Independence Party on the IceSave agreement. It stinks of the two parties trying to position themselves in consumers…sorry voters’ minds before the next elections. Read their lips when they say that they are AGAINST THE ICESAVE AGREEMENT!!! And try not to laugh when they say that Steingrimur J. Sigfusson and the people working on the agreement are traitors.
The reek you smell is from the people protesting their own creation, the IceSave accounts opened by the people who were given Landsbanki by the Independence Party and the Progressive Party seven years ago and proceeded to run it into the ground in much less than a decade. No privatization into the hands of Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and Bjorgolfur Thor and no IceSave.
Granted, it is absolutely ridiculous that the Icelandic people are supposed to carry the burden of the mismanagement of a group of criminals without them being brought to justice and made to pay their part. Bjorgolfur Thor, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, Sigurjon Th. Arnason, Halldor J. Kristjansson, Kjartan Gunnarsson, Svava Grönfeldt and those who sat on the board of Landsbanki during the IceSave period have committed an act of treason so huge that they should in any civilized society be made to pay a fine of everything they own to cover the Landsbanki debt, and preferrably spend a couple of years in jail.
But their defenders, i.e. the government, Althingi and Independence Party voters (most lawyers in Iceland) are against people’s assets being frozen and taken away. Except that is if you’re not wealthy. Then the evaporation of homeowners’ assets that has taken place in Iceland can be blamed on people buying flat screen TV’s and taking excessive risks.
Confused? You shouldn’t be. If you own or control a bank, which you bought with money borrowed from the bank, and run it into the ground then you walk away, keep your assets and form a consultancy, buy chocolate factories and talk of helping out by re-investing. The state assumes the loss and all is fine. If you on the other hand own an apartment, which you bought with your own money and some borrowed from the bank, and then see your owners equity run into the ground by things you have no control over then you have to pay for taking excessive risk. Like the couple in Hafnarfjordur who saved 5 million by living at one of their parents for a few years and then bought a home with 20% down and a loan in ISK. Their excessive risk taking has now seen their owners’ equity drop to a negative 5 million through housing prices falling and the wonderful miracle of price indexation.
No wonder the woman on yesterday’s news was confused about the whole price indexation thing. But she is probably inching closer to the terrible feeling many have that in order to untie the massive knot in their stomach which has been building since last October, nothing short of a revolt is needed.
MP for the Social Democrats Sigmundur Ernir Rúnarsson admitted yesterday that he had drunk wine before giving a speech on Icesave at parliament on Thursday evening. He said it had been a mistake, yet maintained that he had not been under the influence of alcohol.
Copenhagen is set to elect a new mayor on 17 November, and the issue of childcare for local residents is emerging as a hot issue. One candidate, Frank Johnson of the Social Democrats, promises to place a daycare centre no further than 15 minutes by bicycle from anyone’s home.
The reason daycare has become such a pivotal issue is that Copenhagen has been suffering from a major lack in daycare centres over the last two years. The Copenhagen Post reports that at present the city estimates it needs at least 1,000 more daycare centres to accommodate the recent baby boom in the capital.
One proposal currently being floated in the city council is to provide transport for inner-city children to existing daycare centres in the suburbs. Many of these suburban centres are facing closure over a lack of children. Johnson wants Copenhagen to be “among the world’s best cities for children.” His opponents, however, are saying his lofty goal is no more than “hot air” since he’s offered no plan to pay for the daycare centres.
Johnson has been critical of the city’s failure to meet its own promise for childcare. The council recently axed its own plan to provide a childcare centre no more than 4kms from each parent’s home. There are nearly 40,000 kids under the age of five who require daycare in Copenhagen. Johnson thinks it will take his full 4-year term as mayor to fix the problem (if he gets elected).
The Danish Socialist People’s Party (SF) has called for measures to prevent terrorism through a ban on surfing the internet for inspiration.
MPs from both ruling parties, the Social Democrats and the Left-Greens, are keen on attempting renegotiation with the UK and the Netherlands on Icesave. The Icelandic government and the opposition parties are trying to reach an agreement on the matter. 
The Independence Party is now the most popular in Reykjavik, according to the latest Gallup poll.
The City of Helsinki Board has voted 8-6 in favour of introducing congestion charges for the Finnish capital. The decision was made after the proposal had earlier been rejected twice, with a heated – if short – debate preceding the announcement.
(Updated 17.24 GMT) The Progressive Party in Iceland believes Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir is deliberately trying to block a potential massive loan to the country from Norway completely unconnected to the IMF package. The Prime Minister described the allegations as preposterous.
The parliamentary party of the Left-Green Movement met yesterday to discuss disagreement within the party and discontent of some MPs with the work methods of the government. The conclusion was a continued coalition with the Social Democrats. 
The parliamentary group of Iceland’s Left Green Movement will meet this afternoon upon their leader, Steingrimur J. Sigfusson’s return home from the IMF annual meeting in Turkey. The meeting is being described by some as a last gasp attempt to breathe life back into the party’s coalition government with the Social Democrats.
Bjarni Benediktsson, chairman of the largest opposition party, the Independence Party, has requested a meeting with the leaders of the ruling parties, the Social Democrats and the Left-Greens, where their plans on the conclusion of the Icesave debate would be presented. 
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has been asked by opposition parties to “draw his own conclusions” from the scandal surrounding election campaign funding, and then to resign from his post. Vanhanen has come increasingly under fire in recent weeks over claims, counter claims and confusion over the source of his campaign funding, according to NewsRoom Finland. 
If the two coalition parties, the Social Democrats and the Left-Greens, are unable to reach a decision on how to progress in the Icesave matter by the end of this week their cooperation in government will automatically be terminated, Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir concluded after a cabinet meeting yesterday. 
MP for the Social Democrats Sigmundur Ernir Rúnarsson admitted yesterday that he had drunk wine before giving a speech on Icesave at parliament on Thursday evening. He said it had been a mistake, yet maintained that he had not been under the influence of alcohol. 
Copenhagen is set to elect a new mayor on 17 November, and the issue of childcare for local residents is emerging as a hot issue. One candidate, Frank Johnson of the Social Democrats, promises to place a daycare centre no further than 15 minutes by bicycle from anyone’s home.