Grave concerns over request for Parliamentary memo
Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir views the conduct of the governing coalition parties as a serious matter. mbl.is/Eyþór
Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, chair of the Independence Party, says she views it as extremely serious that the People's Party requested a memo from the parliamentary office concerning the origin and use of Article 71 of the parliamentary rules more than two months ago.
The request from the People's Party, dated May 7, asked the office to prepare a briefing note on the so-called "nuclear option." This was just two days after the first reading of Hanna Katrín Friðriksson’s fisheries fee bill began.
Speaking to mbl.is at Alþingi today, as the third reading of the bill was underway, Hafsteinsdóttir criticized what she described as a scripted political play.
"Everyone can see this is a farce"
“We’re witnessing a play written by the governing parties. Why on earth would the government request a memo on how to use Article 71? Why on May 7—just two days after the debate began? Anyone can see this is a farce,” said Hafsteinsdóttir, adding that she regards the matter with deep seriousness.
She also took aim at a recent statement by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, who declared in Parliament two days ago that the majority would "defend the Republic of Iceland."
“I also find it gravely concerning when the Prime Minister of Iceland stands at the podium and says she must defend the republic. Defend it from whom? Where is the threat? There’s no invading army and no natural disaster—who exactly are we defending ourselves against?”
Use of Article 71 called an abuse of power
Hafsteinsdóttir accused the government of crossing a line by invoking Article 71, calling it particularly egregious given that it was used to push through a tax hike.
“The government is forcing this bill through by abusing power. This provision hadn’t been used in 66 years, and it was used yesterday to push a tax increase—this is unprecedented,” she said.
Proposed changes seen as cosmetic
Parliament’s Industry Committee has since proposed certain changes to the bill, presented earlier today by Viðreisn MP Eiríkur Björn Björgvinsson. The Association of Coastal Municipalities criticized the changes in a statement, arguing that they fall short of addressing the concerns previously raised.
“Just hours after invoking the nuclear option, we suddenly see changes to the bill. That tells us the government’s willingness to negotiate was performative at best. These amendments are clearly a response to the backlash, painted as a compromise, but they are no real compromise,” Hafsteinsdóttir said, reiterating that the proposed changes do nothing to ease her party’s concerns about the bill.
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