An informal national election on whether the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, should approve the state guarantee in the Icesave agreement with the UK and the Netherlands began on the internet yesterday. People can obtain a code for voting at their online bank.
The election is organized by the online media Eyjan. The system used was developed by deCODE Genetics, Morgunbladid reports.
Although this election is informal, the system can—with a few amendments—be used for legally binding elections, for example parliamentary elections, according to Hákon Gudbjartsson, managing director of deCODE’s IT division.
Chairman of the Independence Party Bjarni Benediktsson pointed out that MPs should only make decisions based on their own convictions.
“However, I have nothing against finding out how the nation feels with a petition or informal elections. The government must also answer the public’s call for direct participation in decision-making on important issues,” Benediktsson said.
Morgunbladid was unable to contact Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir while working on this story and Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon would not comment.
Click here to read more about Icesave.
