A new survey by Capacent Gallup indicates that 74 percent of Icelandic voters will reject the Icesave legislation in the referendum on March 6, while 19 percent will vote for the legislation and eight percent hand in an empty ballot.
An information booklet on the reasons and consequences of the upcoming Icesave referendum was distributed to homes in Iceland yesterday. It is also available on the website thjodaratkvaedi.is, RÚV reports.
The Law Institution of the University of Iceland, which is responsible for the booklet’s publication, waited with its distribution until the last moment because of uncertainty on whether or not the referendum would take place.
British economist John Kay finds it likely that the referendum will take place. One week ago he expressed his opinion in the Financial Times that British and Dutch authorities should try to reach an agreement with Iceland to avoid the referendum.
The referendum could have a significant international impact, Kay said. “We’ve set the ground for a potential populous revolt. There is anger about what has happened everywhere, not just in Iceland,” Kay told RÚV.
“I think there is a worry that more populous politicians will actually take advantage of that discontent and the way it has not been dealt with,” Kay added.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry of Iceland is preparing to accommodate foreign media representatives who are coming to Iceland to cover the referendum. The ministry’s press center at Indnó on Vonarstraeti 3 in Reykjavík will be open from March 3 to 7.
The ministry has also published a fact sheet on Icesave in English.
Click here to read more about Icesave.
