The Government Offices annual party was slated to take place Oct 6 but has been postponed until spring, Fréttablaðið reports. Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Minister of Education Lilja Alfreðsdóttir did not think it prudent to throw a party on that particular date since it marks the tenth anniversary of the country’s economic collapse.
Ten years ago, on Oct 6, emergency laws were put into place. Prime minister Geir H. Haarde notified the nation of the gravity of the situation in a televised address, concluding his statement with the words “Guð blessi Ísland” (may God bless Iceland). This marked the beginning of the economic collapse and in the next few days, Iceland’s banks crashed one by one.
The organization of the event alternates between ministries and this year, it is in the hands of the ministry of education. Lilja expressed her concerns over the date to the Prime minister and they jointly decided to postpone the event.
