MP for the Independence Party Elín Hirst is calling for former Minister of the Interior Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir to step down as vice chair of the party and is against her taking a seat in parliament on her return from leave, ruv.is reports. Elín argued in a post on Facebook this morning that Hanna Birna made a huge mistake in connection with the leak affair.
“The issue is really serious in my opinion and I think Hanna Birna has made fateful mistakes; the biggest was her interference with the investigation of the case as has been covered in the ombudsman’s report. I think it is not advisable that that Hanna Birna sits in parliament again given the situation and I furthermore think that she should step down as deputy chair of the party,” Elín wrote. She also wrote that she believes that politicians in Iceland should learn from the case and take responsibility for their mistakes.
In a report published on Friday Ombudsman of Alþingi Tryggvi Gunnarsson concluded that Hanna Birna’s communication with former Chief of Police in Reykjavík Stefán Eiríksson during the investigation of her ministry had not been in accordance with rules that ministers must abide by in order to ensure an independent and objective police.
Hanna Birna requested to be released from her duties as minister in late November. She is however expected to return to parliament soon. Stefán stepped down as chief of police last summer.
The Independence Party met to discuss the ombudsman’s report yesterday. Party chair and Minister of Finance Bjarni Benediktsson told Stöð 2 last night that Hanna Birna should return to parliament and that it was within her right to do so.
“She is however a powerful representative of us Independence Party people and has the right, as others, if she chooses, to regain her trust and take it to the test, come and work for those who elected her to parliament. Therefore, I believe it’s completely open for her,” Bjarni said.
