MP for the Social Democrats Sigmundur Ernir Rúnarsson admitted yesterday that he had drunk wine before giving a speech on Icesave at parliament on Thursday evening. He said it had been a mistake, yet maintained that he had not been under the influence of alcohol.
The MP changed his story from the previous day because on Tuesday he stated that he hadn’t drunk any alcoholic beverages before giving the speech when pressed by a journalist from national broadcaster RÚV on Tuesday, RÚV reports.
Rúnarsson released a statement yesterday, explaining that he had participated in a golf tournament where he accepted wine with the dinner served afterwards.
He then went to Althingi, the parliament, to attend discussions on Icesave and gave a speech that had already been prepared.
Rúnarsson said he had been tired and angry because members of the opposition kept interrupting him but that he had not been drunk. Therefore he had denied questions to that regard the previous day.
However, the MP admitted that it had been a mistake to give a speech at parliament after having drunk wine and he apologized for that mistake.
Ragnheidur Ríkhardsdóttir, vice-speaker of parliament, has requested that the matter be discussed in the Credentials Committee.
The final discussions on Icesave are currently taking place and the parliament will vote on the government’s Icesave bill tomorrow.
Click here to read more about Icesave.
