Politics and Society | Iceland Monitor | Thu 2 Jul 2015 | 13.47 GMT | Modified at 14.27

Heard of the Alþingi ‘kitchen day’?

The Icelandic Parliament ('Alþingi'). Photo: Ómar

Yesterday evening, Icelandic MPs took to the lectern to deliver their customary closing speeches before the Icelandic Parliament (‘Alþingi’) adjourns for summer recess.

These speeches, known colloquially as the eldhúsdagsumræður (meaning ‘kitchen-day speeches’), are a chance for MPs to go over the main events of the parliament which is drawing to a close, reaffirm general policy lines and address issues of the day.

What was said?

Here are some of the highlights of yesterday’s ‘kitchen day’:

Helgi Hjörvar, MP for the Social Democratic Alliance (‘Samfylkingin’), said that politics in Iceland is currently in a bad place. “Many issues this year have shown how poor politics has become,” said Hjörvar. He went on to criticise the government for commemorating the 100^th anniversary of women getting the vote in Iceland by legislating against strike action by nurses.

Bjarni Benediktsson, Icelandic Minister for Finance and leader of the Independence Party (‘Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn’), pointed out that Iceland’s spending power had increased during this legislature, taxes had fallen and household debt had reduced. “Independence Party policy has always been to lift all members of society up”, said Benediktsson. “That way lie success and progress.”

Svandís Svavarsdóttir, MP for the Left-Green Movement (‘Vinstrihreyfingin – Grænt framboð’), stressed that economic benefits should be felt by all and that democracy meant having one’s voice heard all year round, not just at election time. She also expressed her party’s particular concern for the current state of the Icelandic health system.

Róbert Marshall, MP for the Bright Future party (‘Björt framtíð’), expressed his party’s interest in changes to Iceland’s current constitution. He singled out the government’s mortgage-reduction scheme of 2013 for particular criticism. “What was this ‘correction’ nonsense?” he wonders. “1.250 homes with over ISK 100 million in assets received reductions.”

Marshall’s party colleague, Brynhildur Pétursdóttir, chimed in with further criticism of the scheme and also of the government’s decision to withdraw Iceland’s application to join the European Union (EU).

Birgitta Jónsdóttir, leader of the Pirate Party (‘Píratar’) remarked: “I must confess that I am profoundly disappointed in governance and administration in Iceland,” she stated. “And I am not alone.” Addressing the Icelandic people directly, she stated: “We are nothing without you. […] Our policy is to give you the chance to help shape the Iceland of the future in cooperation with others.”

Brynjar Níelsson, MP for the Independence Party, lent a conciliatory note to proceedings by praising the performance of all governments – left and right – since the economic collapse of 2008 and by encouraging government and opposition MPs to talk to each other.

Andrés Ingi Jónsson, MP for the Left-Green Movement, reminded MPs that the most important role of any politician is to listen and referred specifically to the Free the Nipple campaign. “Mister Speaker, we can all be proud of these women,” he stated.