This evening it was finally announced that Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Jón Bjarnason lost his job. So did Minister of Economics and Commerce Árni Páll Árnason. Both men were disappointed, but Árni Páll said he would continue to support the government. Jón Bjarnason said that this would weaken the government and would not say to RÚV that he would continue to support the coalition.
In an interview with mbl.is Jón said that he would continue to be a member of the Left Green party and said it was more important than ever that the party follow its politics, that the MPs were elected to follow.
The winner? Soon to be Minister of Finance Oddný Hardardóttir.
Left Green Chairman Steingrímur J. Sigfússon will leave the Ministry of Finance and take over both the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Economics and Commerce. When Minister of Industry Katrín Júlíusdóttir goes on maternity leave in a few weeks he will take over her ministry as well. In spring the tree ministries shall be merged. Oddný Hardardóttir of the Social Democratic party will take over as Minister of Finance. After the musical cheirs have been settled the Social democrats will have all of the main ministries: The Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Welfare.
The number of ministers will be eight, down from twelve at the beginning of the term.
