Independence Party demands August parliamentary session ahead of referendum

Iceland's Independence Party is pushing for a parliamentary session in August, timed to precede a national referendum on resuming accession talks with the European Union. The party also intends to use this session to address the state's financial plan.

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May I remind you how this government started with the presented financial plan here at the last parliament. Then the opposition walked out because it was unacceptable, the presentation that was on the financial plan.

Bryndís Haraldsdóttir, a Member of Parliament for the Independence Party, voiced strong criticism of the government's approach to the financial plan. She recalled that the opposition walked out during the previous parliamentary session due to the "unacceptable" presentation of the financial plan. Haraldsdóttir stated that a written promise had been made to engage in a substantive debate on the financial plan during its first reading, contingent on receiving necessary supporting documents.

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It was agreed here to try to have a substantive debate in the first reading of the financial plan because there was a written promise that the next time the financial plan came forward, these documents that MPs need to have a substantive debate on the financial plan would be provided.

Haraldsdóttir pointed to a committee report that acknowledges significant issues with the current financial plan, declaring its premises to be "shattered." She questioned the majority's response, stating, "But what are the reactions of the majority of the budget committee? None."

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But what are the reactions of the majority of the budget committee? None.

She asserted that postponing the debate on the financial plan is unacceptable. Haraldsdóttir believes the government can finalize its calculations, and the August session, which the Independence Party has requested, could accommodate both the financial plan debate and allow ministers to answer questions related to the upcoming referendum.

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But it is unacceptable that the debate on the financial plan be postponed.