In the light of all the aforesaid, I have decided, according to Article 26 of the Constitution, to refer this new Act to the people. As stated in the Constitution, the new Act will nevertheless become law and the referendum will take place “as soon as possible.”

If the Act is approved in the referendum then naturally it will remain in force. If the referendum goes the other way, then the Act No. 96/2009, which the Althingi passed on 28 August, on the basis of the agreement with the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, will continue to be law, recognizing that the people of Iceland acknowledge their obligations. That Act was passed by the Althingi with the involvement of four of the parliamentary parties, as stated in the President’s declaration of 2 September.