Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, approved the new government’s bill on the lowering of fishing tariffs shortly after midnight yesterday. The bill was passed 37:25 with one abstention.
Alþingi. Photo: Páll Kjartansson/Iceland Review.
The issue has been the subject of heated debate over the past few weeks. Hours in parliament dedicated to the issue totaled 22 hours, the longest time dedicated to any one issue during this year’s summer session, ruv.is reports.
MPs for the Pirate Party met with President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson earlier today to encourage him to veto the bill and refer it to a referendum. In an interview with ruv.is MP Birgitta Jónsdóttir said that she thought it was unlikely that he will do so.
Around 35,000 people have signed a petition urging the president not to sign the bill.
Related:
28.06.2013 | Something Smells Fishy (ESA)
22.06.2013 | Talks of Referendum on the Rise
19.06.2013 | Petition Protests Amendments in Fishing Tariff Laws
ZR
