In an effort to ease tensions within the party, sources close to Vísir are reporting that former Minister of Health Ögmundur Jónasson – who resigned last September over disagreements about Icesave – is likely to be brought back in to a ministerial position.
It’s no secret that the Leftist-Greens – who share the ruling coalition with the Social Democrats – have lacked consensus over Icesave. Apart from Jónasson’s resignation, both he and Leftist-Green MP Lilja Mósesdóttir voted against the Icesave law which was approved last December, and then subsequently vetoed and nullified in referendum.
Sources close to Vísir are reporting that Leftist-Green MPs Lilja Mósesdóttir, Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Jón Bjarnason, Guðfríður Lilja Grétarsdóttir and Atli Gíslason are still not happy with the party’s official take on Icesave. In order to offer an appeasement, the sources say, Jónasson will be brought back to a ministerial position. In his place, current Minister of Agricultural and Fishing Affairs Jón Bjarnasson will step down.
Jónasson himself has not been pressuring to return to a ministerial position, it is reported, and he has not said as much publicly, either. He has also dismissed opposition party claims that the ruling coalition is weakened by the results of the Icesave referendum, and has said that he will not support ending the coalition.
Both party chairmen – Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon – have said that the government will hold, and that Icesave talks will continue.