Mayor of Kópavogur Gunnar Birgisson has been asked to resign by his
coalition partners on town council amidst charges of corruption and
nepotism.
Birgisson is a member of the Independence Party, and his party, along with the Progressives, maintain the majority seats on Kópavogur town council. Last night, the Progressives met with the Independence Party town councilpeople, and an agreement was reached that Birgisson should resign. Morgunblaðið reports that there is still some disagreement within the Independence Party about this decision, but that the agreement is more or less final.
Birgisson told reporters he will talk to “his people” before talking to the press.
It was recently brought to light that the city had made several lucrative contracts with the company Frjáls miðlun – which happens to be owned by his daughter. In response, many members of Kópavogur city council have called for Birgisson to resign. An investigation conducted by Deloitte arrived at the conclusion that there were a number of questionable points in the town council accounting, and that there is a possibility that illegal activity occured.
“I don’t see what I’ve done wrong,” Birgisson told radio station Rás 2 at the time, contending furthermore that the Deloitte report does not connect him with business between the town and Frjáls miðlun.
A statement from Birgisson is expected later today.
(Photo: kristinn.is)