From Iceland — Use of Snuff in Parliament Sparks Debate

Use of Snuff in Parliament Sparks Debate

Published November 12, 2009

Margrét Tryggvadóttir, an MP for The Movement, criticized her colleagues in parliament yesterday for using snuff – nasally administered tobacco – and complained that it was clogging the voting buttons.
“I find it disgusting but naturally it’s a matter of taste”, she told Vísir. Speaking in parliament, she said that while some MPs who use snuff are rather neat about it, others manage to get the powdered tobacco everywhere, and openly display soiled handkerchiefs. She would like to see the use of snuff banned in parliament.
Other MPs were surprised to her such criticism. Jón Gunnarsson, an MP for the Independence Party, told reporters that using snuff in parliament was a tradition, adding that the voting buttons work just fine for him. “I don’t think we’re hurting anybody but ourselves by using it,” he added.
Ásta Ragnheiður Jóhannesdóttir, the president of parliament, told reporters that no one has yet discussed with her the possibility of banning snuff, and finds it unlikely that it will happen.
(Photo: snuffstore)

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