Protest Calling For Government Resignation To Be Held On Independence Day

Thousands are planning to attend a protest at Austurvöllur tomorrow calling for the resignation of the government, and the timing is not without precedent.

At the time of this writing, over 3,700 people are planning to attend a protest at 11:00 tomorrow, to be held in front of parliament where the centerpiece of Independence Day celebrations take place, to call for the resignation of the government. Kjarninn reports that while not everyone may approve of the timing, there is a history of holding similar protests on June 17.

Guðfinna Jóhanna Guðmundsdóttir, Reykjavík city councilperson for the Progressive Party, lambasted tomorrow’s protest on Facebook, rhetorically asking “do these people not care about the children that are enjoying themselves on this day[?] I hope these people can pull their heads out of their asses for just this one day.”

Kjarninn points out that protests have been held in front of parliament on Independence Day before, though. In 2009, opponents of Iceland joining the EU and paying back Icesave – many of whom included members of the Progressive Party – as well as social activists calling for reducing household debt held a protest on June 17 at Austurvöllur. Many of these protestors shouted over the speech then-Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir was giving.

Organisers of tomorrow’s protest specifically cite the passage of strike-breaking legislation, lowering taxes on wealthy fishing companies, and breaking campaign promises as amongst the reasons for calling for the resignation of the government.