Independence Party chairman Bjarni Benediktsson told reporters that he was fully ready for the formation of a new ruling coalition, and welcomed the idea of renewing his party’s partnership with the Social Democrats.
As has been reported, the Prime Minister’s recent and surprising remarks that she was against charging four former ministers – two from within her own party, the Social Democrats – with negligence and mismanagement has led to murmurs of new elections, or even a new coalition.
Speaking to television station Stöð 2, Bjarni said that how to deal with the economic collapse has been splitting the coalition, adding that he believes the Social Democrats want to put more emphasis on job creation than their partners, the Leftist-Greens.
When asked what he thinks of reforming a coalition between his party and the Social Democrats – the same partnership that was driven from power in the wake of popular protests in early 2009 – Bjarni replied that he believes the most important thing for the Icelandic people is to look at what the current government is doing, imagine what party he could most work with, and consider what platform would breathe life into the economy.
When asked point-blank if he was ready for a new coalition with the Social Democrats, he responded simply, “Yes, absolutely.”
(Photo: sunnlendingur.is)