Wants Grafarvogur To Secede From Reykjavík

A small movement to make Grafarvogur a separate municipality is underway, with some contending the Reykjavík neighbourhood can manage itself.

Vísir reports that Emil Örn Kristjánsson, the director of the Independence Society of Grafarvogur, spoke candidly about his ideas on a radio interview with Bylgjan this morning.

About 17,000 people live in the east Reykjavík district, and it would be the fourth largest municipality in the country if it seceded. Emil Örn believes that the neighbourhood could do a far better job of managing its own affairs than City Hall could.

“Reykjavík is a poorly-run municipality,” he said. “It’s a monolith. Those who run the city are not in any connection with its residents. The city is deeply in debt, and all opinion polls show low levels of satisfaction with the city.”

This last contention is not entirely true. In a poll taken just last month, 97% of respondents reported they were either very satisfied or just satisfied with living in the city, effectively making Reykjavík the third happiest city in the world.

How this independence movement will work towards achieving its aim still remains to be seen.