The current Icelandic government is fast becoming everything people did not hope for in the spring of 2009.
The whole affair with Magma Energy’s investment in HS Energy is reminiscent of the Independence Party and Centre Party at its worst. According to Icelandic law, companies outside the European Economic Area are not allowed to invest in the Icelandic energy sector. So according to Magma’s CEO, the Icelandic ministry of industry suggested it should form a shelf corporation in Sweden to bypass the law. At a time when Icelanders are more concerned than ever about selling their resources on the cheap, and more sensitive to bad governance than before, the whole thing has an odd stench surrounding it. The question is; are the Social Democrats no different than the Independence Party when it comes to reckless privatization? Or are they just desperate to get any foreign investment, whatsoever, whatever it takes?
The Left Green’s isolationist stance towards EU membership while neglecting to offer an alternative vision on foreign policy and the IMF (here because it was asked to) without regards for the situation if it were to leave. Their constant infighting and bickering is bizarre considering that they have been handed a job where the need to unite their ranks and the nation is of fundamental importance. The question is, are the Left Greens comprised of solo players, egoists and ball hogs who are unable and unwilling to work with others?
Nepotist hirings of special friends like Einar Karl Haraldsson who on his fourth or fifth official mission since the economic crash without due process of advertising his positions, smacking of methods David Oddson would have been proud of. With such massive unemployment and the supposedly educated workforce, is the former PR guru of Kaupthing boss Sigurdur Einarsson the best qualified person for all the jobs that need to be done?
The disappearance of Johanna. Where is she and what happened to all the values she held dear? The tough stance of Gylfi Magnusson against all debt reform? Have the Social Democrats and Left Greens succumbed to financial industry lobbyists?
The U-turn on reform in the fishing industry. Who has been threatened, who has been paid off? Is the government buckling under pressure from the fishing lobby and halting the necessary reform?
With such an inept performance so far, no wonder that the disillusioned voters in Iceland are considering letting their nation go to hell in a hand-basket and let the Independence Party back in.
There is so much murky stuff going on that it is hard to make sense of it all.
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July 12th, 2010 → 12:57 pm @ Dadi
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