The revelation made last night by the huge leak of documents from a law firm in Panama, linking PM Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson to a company on Tortola, and other Icelandic politicians to companies in tax havens, continues to have widespread repercussions.
Reykjavík Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson is shocked by the revelations regarding the so-called Panama Papers. He regrets that the City of Reykjavík has been dragged into the financial scandal, but the names of two current city council members are mentioned in the leak, as well as that of one former member of the council.
“Surely this is a certain shock for Iceland and for the reputation,” he told RÚV.“In my opinion, it’s important that those city council members clean up their act. That has to be the minimum demand in such cases.”
Director of Internal Revenue Skúli Eggert Þórðarson told RÚV that his office has requested a copy of the Panama Papers concerning offshore companies owned by Icelanders. He stated a letter has been written to the news organization Reykjavík Media, requesting the copies. He noted that the documents include information regarding 600 Icelanders, and said the plan was to compare those documents to other information, already in the hands of tax authorities.
Finance Minister Bjarni Benediktsson, who is currently vacationing in the US, describes the government’s position as very tough. He is expected back in Iceland tomorrow morning. He declined to comment on the parliamentary resolution, which calls for a vote of no confidence in PM Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, or whether he deems him qualified to continue to serve as prime minister.
The board of Heimdallur, the Association of Young Independence Party Members in Reykjavík, has issued a statement declaring no confidence in the prime minister.
Ten thousand people have announced their intention to go to the demonstration on Austurvöllur square at 5:00 pm today. A simultaneous demonstration is scheduled on Ráðhústorg square in Akureyri, North Iceland.
