In the mbl.is-sponsored talkshow Spursmál, Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) candidate and former Heimildin journalist Þórður Snær Júlíusson admitted to expressing misogynistic views under a pseudonym on his former blog.
Þórður was confronted by Spursmál’s host Stefán Einar Stefánsson about the writings on November 12. According to mbl.is, Þórður wrote his blog posts between 2006 and 2007 on the website www.thessarelskur.blogspot.com under the pseudonym German Steel.
Þórður’s writings first rose to prominence when Rannveig Rist, CEO of Rio Tinto Alcan, brought charges against him to the Icelandic Press Association’s ethics committee. In the charge, Rannveig deduced the writing belonging to Þórður. According to mbl.is, Þórður allegedly wrote that Rannveig “was flirting with being retarded”.
The ethics committee appealed the charge on the basis that the comments were Þórður’s personal expression and did not concern his work as a journalist.
Þórður has issued a public apology since the comments’ revelation in the media.
Up and onwards
In a Facebook post, Samfylkingin leader Kristrún Frostadóttir commented on the issue stating, “as a woman, it is incredibly hard to read this. I feel like I was punched in the stomach.”
Kristrún continued. “Like most people know, Samfylkingin has been at the forefront in the sphere of gender equality and we will continue that position. It needs no mention that these writings do not reflect the party’s policies.”
She claimed to have talked to Þórður, saying that he is ashamed of his comments but that his blog posts do not reflect him as a person. In her opinion, people should receive the opportunity to better themselves.
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