From Iceland — Government Believes Referendum a Waste of Time

Government Believes Referendum a Waste of Time

Published March 3, 2010

Both Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon considered the upcoming referendum on the Icesave law to be a waste of time and a farce.
Speaking to reporters, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Icelandic negotiations committee was in London trying to fine tune a new deal with British and Dutch authorities over Icesave. When asked if it’s possible the referendum – scheduled for this Saturday – could be delayed by a week, she said that the possibility hasn’t been ruled out. But with a better deal on the table, it is important that people know what they’re voting for or against. As it is, the referendum situation is a farce of sorts.
The Minister of Finance took matters a step further, calling the referendum a waste of time and money when a new deal is already in our hands. The only thing standing in the way are the opposition parties, one of whom – the Progressives – have a strong connection to the people who organized the petition asking the president to veto the law and refer it to referendum.

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