“Everyone can see through Össur”

Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson says Össur Skarphéðinsson is trying to steer attention away from the success of his old political foster brother, former Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, after the referendum.

Speaking on the program Spursmál, the emeritus professor discussed the reaction among supporters of European Union membership to the referendum result. Össur has recently attacked Hannes, suggesting that the former Cold War fighter has become a useful innocent for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hannes dismissed the attacks.

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Össur is, of course, trying to divert attention from one thing.

“Össur is, of course, trying to divert attention from one thing,” Hannes said. Before the referendum, he recalled, Össur had written that Ólafur Ragnar was putting his political legacy on the line. A defeat would leave that legacy meager, Össur had argued, while a victory would represent a major achievement. Hannes said Össur had since stopped discussing that issue.

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He cannot bring himself to say that his old foster brother, his longtime friend, achieved a great victory. That is why he is simply diverting attention from it by attacking various other people.

Hannes offered his own explanation: “He cannot bring himself to say that his old foster brother, his longtime friend, achieved a great victory. That is why he is simply diverting attention from it by attacking various other people.” He included himself among the targets, referring to the suggestion that he had become an agent for Russia.

Asked whether Össur’s approach might be clever, Hannes rejected the idea. “No, listen, everyone can see through Össur. You do not need to worry about that,” he replied.

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No, listen, everyone can see through Össur. You do not need to worry about that.

Hannes then turned to Ólafur Ragnar, whom he described as a former political opponent. He said Ólafur deserved praise for his conduct during the campaign and believed his position had been sincere, especially because he had no personal gain left to seek in public life. Hannes said he respected him for stepping forward and called the result “a major victory for him.” The source text ends during a question about Ólafur Ragnar’s former Progressive Party identity.

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He performed exceptionally well in this election campaign.