From Iceland — Mayor Faces Criticism For Absence

Mayor Faces Criticism For Absence

Published March 15, 2011

Questions have arisen as to why Reykjavík mayor Jón Gnarr spent a week in Austria while a debate raged in city hall over the combining of schools.
Eyjan reports that the majority coalition of city hall, comprised of the Best Party and the Social Democrats, have put forward a proposal to combine several city schools in order to save money. The idea has been hotly contested by teachers and parents alike, with residents of the east Reykjavík neighbourhood of Breiðholt issuing a statement to the media that “there has not been shown any economic or professional advantage” in the proposed merger.
While the matter has been raging across the media and the blog world, it was pointed out that the mayor has been in Austria, introducing people to the idea behind the Best Party.
This has brought out some harsh criticism from the city council majority, who pointed out that the mayor himself does not need to be abroad in order to promote a documentary about the Best Party, especially while such an important and controversial matter is being debated.
At the time of this writing, no response from the mayor or the Best Party has been made.

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