Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir said in a speech at a meeting with her party members in the Social Democratic Alliance at Hótel Loftleidir on Saturday that working with the Left-Greens is like “herding cats.” Her comment was not well-received.
Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir. Photo by Geir Ólafsson.
Many members of the Left-Green Movement, which forms the coalition in Iceland’s government with the Social Democrats, were angered by the PM’s comment and want it to be on the agenda for their parliamentary group meeting today, Morgunbladid reports.
“I don’t think it’s suitable to compare politicians with herds that are rounded-up in folds or fences, regardless whether there is question of cats or sheep,” said Left-Green MP Ögmundur Jónasson.
“This mindset has proven the Achilles’ heel of Icelandic politics. You could even say that the herding of the political parties is one of the main causes of the banking collapse,” Jónasson added.
The PM announced on Saturday that the number of ministries will be reduced, preferably already this year, which includes shutting down the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. There will only be one ministry for all industries.
Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Jón Bjarnason said it is not wise to weaken the administrational position of his ministry when accession talks with the European Union are coming up.
Left-Green MP Ásmundur Einar Dadason agrees. “It is out of the question as far as I’m concerned to weaken the basic industries in the EU accession process, even though some people might be interested in that.”
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