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🇮🇸 Iceland /Elections & Politics

Icelandic lawmakers slam parliament session on seamen's holiday

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Opposition lawmakers in Iceland criticized the speaker of parliament for convening a session during the seamen's holiday weekend.
  • They argued that holding parliamentary sessions on this weekend shows disrespect to fishermen and their families.
  • The speaker was urged to postpone the session to allow lawmakers to participate in seamen's day events.

Lawmakers from Iceland's opposition parties have voiced strong objections to the parliament's speaker for scheduling a session during the seamen's holiday weekend. Jón Gunnarsson, a member of the Independence Party, called the decision a "breach of parliamentary history," noting that sessions have rarely, if ever, been held on this specific weekend.

"I want to urge the honorable speaker to postpone this session and allow us to participate in what should be the number one priority this weekend, to show seamen and their families the respect they deserve," Gunnarsson stated. He pointed out that similar sessions were only held in 2012 and 2015, with the former postponed due to protests and the latter convened out of necessity to address the removal of currency controls before markets reopened.

I want to urge the honorable speaker to postpone this session and allow us to participate in what should be the number one priority this weekend, to show seamen and their families the respect they deserve.

— Jón GunnarssonA member of the Independence Party, Jón Gunnarsson, stated his reasons for urging the postponement of the parliamentary session.

Other opposition members, including Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, Hildur Sverrisdóttir, and Nanna Margrét Gunnlaugsdóttir, echoed these sentiments. Hafsteinsdóttir, chairwoman of the Independence Party, criticized the government for not concluding its business before the seamen's holiday, suggesting it was a "disgrace" to the government that it could not adhere to unwritten rules and traditions.

It is a disgrace to the government that it cannot conclude its business without deviating from unwritten rules and traditions of parliament.

— Guðrún HafsteinsdóttirGuðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, chairwoman of the Independence Party, criticized the government's handling of the parliamentary session.

Hildur Sverrisdóttir added that while agreements on ending parliamentary sessions are necessary, "no one had ever thought of using the seamen's holiday weekend for a parliamentary session." She concluded, "There is nothing here that I can see that calls for this decision, and unfortunately, this is disrespect to the seamen."

However, Arna Lára Jónsdóttir and Guðmundur Ari Sigurjónsson also spoke, emphasizing the importance of completing the week's legislative tasks. They argued that the parliamentary session was necessary to finish pending business.

There is nothing here that I can see that calls for this decision and, unfortunately, this is disrespect to the seamen.

— Hildur SverrisdóttirHildur Sverrisdóttir, a member of parliament for the Independence Party, expressed her view on the session's timing.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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