Major abuse of ministerial power

Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, Inga Sæland and Sigríður Andersen.

Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, Inga Sæland and Sigríður Andersen. Composite image

“I find this news very concerning if it is true. If Inga [Sæland] has become a minister at this time, then this is a major abuse of ministerial power, which I would say is very serious.”

This is what Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, an MP for the Independence Party and former Minister of Justice, said in an interview with Morgunblaðið about the alleged content of a conversation between Inga Sæland, Minister of Social Affairs and Housing, and the headmaster of Borgarholt School, Ársæll Guðmundsson.

The case of the shoes

Three weeks ago, Sæland called Guðmundsson because a pair of shoes belonging to her grandson had gone missing. According to the newspaper’s sources, the headmaster has told several people that Sæland mentioned her clout and influence with the police and her position in society.

It should be noted that the handbook on the code of conduct for ministers states, among other things: “A minister does not use his or her position for personal gain or the benefit of related parties.”

Asked if it had occurred to her to listen to officials for personal gain and to remind them of her authority as Minister of Justice, Hafsteinsdóttir says: “No, never, ever.”

She reiterates that if true, this is very concerning. She mentions that the pair of shoes were found by chance under normal circumstances and then adds: “It is often better to go slowly than to rush to conclusions.”

Elected officials cannot use their position for personal gain

Sigríður Á. Andersen, MP for the Centre Party and former Minister of Justice says in an interview with Morgunblaðið that if true, no special code of conduct is needed to understand that a minister should not use his or her position for personal gain.

Andersen points out that the school principal has the option of addressing the prime minister if he believes that any code of conduct has been violated.

“There is no need for a code of conduct in itself to assume that a minister does not use his power or position for personal gain,” Andersen says.

"I cannot get into such matters"

Ársæll Guðmundsson, the school principal, says that the conversation is confidential.

“As the school principal and with an army of clients and guardians on their tails, who are calling about one thing or another, I cannot get into such matters. No matter how strange and strange they may sound. I have 1,300 students and 150 employees.”

Neither Inga Sæland nor her aides could be reached yesterday in connection with the discussion. Nor could Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, the Minister of Justice.

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