As if the government wasn’t in enough trouble with public opinion here at home, Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir has publicly announced that she plans to shun the referendum tomorrow.
“To me it is pointless and I find it is very sad that the first referendum since the founding of the republic revolves around legislation that is already obsolete. Consequently I see no point in taking part in this referendum,” Jóhanna told Fréttablaðið.
Granted, that opinion is shared by many people. However, in the view of a large proportion of the Icelandic nation, and even of the world*, this referendum is about so much more. Even if this is Jóhanna’s personal opinion, stating it so publicly seems like political harakiri. Even showing up at the polling booths and handing in an empty ballot – even if she admitted to it – would be better. At least she would then be seen as a participant in the process, in touch with the rest of the nation. This way, she just seems arrogant.
But then, perhaps she just has nothing to lose.
* If RÚV removes the video it can always be viewed here, on Lára Hanna’s blog. Scroll down a little until you see the interview with Stephen Evans from the BBC.
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Actually, she’s absolutely wrong to not vote.
Sure, the law should have been repealed in the Althingi, thus removing the need to have a referendum to repeal it. But it hasn’t been. So, technically, it is actual law at the moment.
If there’s a better deal on the table, it’s her (and everyone else’s) duty to ensure that this law is repealed. That should have happened the second the UK & NL offered a better deal, whether it was accepted by Iceland or not.
But it’s nice to hear from her
.
applaus to johanna for calling the referendum what it is….some sort of pseudo-democratic pressure valve. it is more about giving the betrayed people of iceland their voice back than about icesave.
Wow! teddy really has been thrown out of the pram.
It’s the reaction of a sulking kid. Why hasn’t she taken care of withdrawing the bill, which is the essence of this referendum? After all, it’s somehow still her bill.
But maybe she’ll just be busy tomorrow making provisions for her impending retirement.
“To me it is pointless and I find it is very sad that the first referendum since the founding of the republic revolves around legislation that is already obsolete.”
Well, if she hadn’t been so damned eager to find ways to make it obsolete and preferably be able to call it off, maybe the first referendum since the founding of the republic wouldn’t be so pointless.
Politicians posture, but in general, people know that it is their money and their future that is on the line. The only official deal is up for a ‘referendum’ and I, for one, am watching this closely. For those in the US who have been ‘wiped out’/dispossessed/unemployed by the financiers, there is a healthy envy of the Icelanders’ opportunity to cast a vote.
WoW! she actually speaks!!!
“legislation that is already obsolete.”
So why hasn’t she pull it out, why is the law still in parlament and effective as we speak.
“To me it is pointless ” So much for democracy and setting an example to the young generations about voting.
“I see no point in taking part in this referendum” That’s what I call being in touch with the people listening to what the people want.
snowball: “it is more about giving the betrayed people of iceland their voice back ” Mmmm…..What’s wrong with that??
This is a huge issue — gigantic — involving every nation’s right to say “no” to the predators of global finance. What was done to Iceland wasn’t done just by your own transnational banksters and a collusive government; it was also a deliberate takedown by speculators in currencies and debt default derivatives and their handmaidens, the corrupt debt rating agencies.
Exactly the same fate befell Ireland and Eastern Europe and it’s happening again in Greece, with Spain, Portugal and Italy set to be the next targets and then, most likely, Britain. Even the USA won’t be far behind.
Big Money thinks it has the right to rule the world and, so far, these guys are winning. The losers are working people everywhere, who first have their pockets picked by the banksters and speculators, then fall under the jackboot of the IMF/World Bank wrecking crew and lose control of their resources and destiny.
You’re lucky to have a government that’s giving you a chance to assert popular sovereignty at the polls. The rest us will have only the streets — and Iceland’s inspiring example, I hope.
Best of luck to you,
Erin
I feel that you should always turn up to vote, even if you just scrawl something unprintable across the ballot paper. Why? Because our forefathers and foremothers (like the people in your photographs of turf cottages and great-grandmother) fought hard, and in some countries, even lost their lives in the struggle to get the vote. We journey to the voting station not just to participate but also to honour them.
sylvia from viking wirral
The government wants to pass a bill.
The President refuses to sign the bill.
A referendum is required according to the constitution.
The upcoming referendum seems to justify the action of the President.
Pointless? No.
Outcome already given? Yes.
“The upcoming referendum seems to justify the action of the President.”
Its pointless to have a government in that case, just get the President to have a referendum on all decisions. They could have a referendum to ask “how Iceland is going to pay its bills when it cannot borrow overseas capital?”.
That should be a difficult vote to count.
Johanna = Doddson Lite
Her whole administration has been nothing but a craven capitulation to the bansters. Grimsson shines in light of these trolls and troll wives (members of parliament).
Everybody seems to know the answer, but what exactly is the question ??
Peter,
“how Iceland is going to pay its bills when it cannot borrow overseas capital?”.
That should be a difficult vote to count.
What makes you think Iceland wouldn’t be able to borrow overseas? I think they’d be able to raise finance. Do you think Argentina didn’t find buyers for its bonds after its default? Because that would be mistaken. They did.
There have been some idiotic defaults: Equador most recently, but usually get resolved (i.e. a massive haircut) Russia perhaps, China and Asia, maybe more likely – the amount they’d require – 10bn USD is, after all, peanuts to a resource hungry nation like China – which is the largest creditor nation in the world. The largest debtor nation being the US of A, I believe.
Do you think Argentina didn’t find buyers for its bonds after its default? Because that would be mistaken. They did.
Maybe, but if Wiki is even vaguely accurate, it wasn’t a pleasant journey. It also appears to contradict what you say:
“Argentina is the only member of the G-20 that is unable to raise capital in the international financial markets.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_debt_restructuring
Of course, in Iceland’s case, it would need to be established that there was a debt to default on first.
“It also appears to contradict what you say:
“Argentina is the only member of the G-20 …”
sorry for my naivete. But how in the world Japan, China and even postwar Germany managed to get on their knees and repay their debts?
I am afraid answer to this question is what money crowd is afraid most of all. Much better to have something hostage than let it free.
If there ever was a referendum on an issue that could affect your entire life, which issue would have had more at stake for you than this? Seems to be a very worthy choice for a first referendum. Bravo to Grimsson. Letting people officially show what they think of legislation drafted by their alleged representatives is poetic justice.
“I see no point in taking part in this referendum”
If she can’t be bothered voting, then why should anyone bother voting for her?
I really like people young and old that write blogs, it’s definitely very hard to have this particular understanding just about any means. Top-notch job.
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