Hanna Birna May Avoid Parliamentary Hearing

Recently resigned Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir will likely not have to face a parliamentary hearing on the leaked memo scandal, due to her resignation, RÚV reports.

Hanna Birna was due to appear in a live and publicly televised hearing to discuss her role in the leaked memo case, as well as answer to allegations that she may have tried to influence the course of an ongoing police investigation of her ministry by threatening former Commissioner of the Capital Area Police, Stefán Eiríksson.

According Alþingi Office Manager Helgi Bernódusson, a minister is both politically responsible as well as legally responsible for his or her actions. A parliamentary hearing however, can only challenge political actions and by resigning, Hanna Birna can apparently no longer be held politically responsible for her actions – although she can be held legally responsible and forced to answer to say, the police or State Prosecutor.

However, it is unclear what might happen should the Parliamentary Ombudsman investigating Hanna Birna’s role in the leaked memo case hand in his findings before Hanna Birna is absolved of her duties.

If the report is handed in before Hanna Birna is replaced, a parlimentary hearing may still go forward.

Hanna Birna will continue working as Minister of the Interior until the Minister of Finance, Bjarni Benediktsson, announces her replacement. The news is expected within the next few days.

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