The Icelandic government and single ministers have agreed to or made declarations of intent on ISK billions in expenditure since Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, ended its last session in March.
Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament. Páll Kjartansson/Iceland Review.
According to Fréttablaðið, the planned expenditure amounts to more than ISK 5 billion (USD 43 million, EUR 33 million) over the next few years.
Political scientist Gunnar Helgi Kristinsson stated that politicians making promises on spending shortly before an election is common and that it is an obvious attempt to win votes.
Gunnar would like to prevent such conduct with regulations so that ministers will not have the authority to spend the state’s funds in the lead-up to the election.
Incidentally, on Tuesday, Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson announced his decision to offer tenders in the EEA for the design and construction of a new ferry for Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands). The construction is to be completed by late 2015, Fréttablaðið reports.
In the most recent polls, support has increased for the ruling parties, the Social Democratic Alliance and Left Green Movement.
Related:
24.04.2013 | Progressive Party in the Lead Ahead of Election
19.04.2013 | Pre-Election Voting Twice that of Last Election
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