With the decision to kick Minster of Agriculture and Fisheries Jón Bjarnason out of government, it is clear that the ruling coalition may no longer have a working majority. Should Jón and his two strongest supporters in the Left Green party turn against the government in a vote of no confidence, it will be clear that it will have lost its slim majority of 33-30 in Althingi.
Þór Saari. Photo: Althingi
To try to strengthen that majority, informal discussions have been held with the three member party The Movement. The party was asked to support the government in return for concessions. According to national broadcasting service RÚV, The Movement demanded that both, Jón and President of Althingi Ásta Ragnheidur Jóhannesdóttir be let go. The party also wants “increased democracy” and support for families in financial trouble.
According to an interview with MP for The Movement Thór Saari in Fréttabladid, his party did not demand any seats in government, neither as cabinet ministers nor as chairmen of parliamentary committees.
The discussions failed and Thór says he thinks they are over.
In separate discussions, independent MP Gudmundur Steingrímsson was asked to support the government. He told RÚV that he did not promise any type of support nor to abstain in a vote of no confidence.
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