According to police, at least 6,000 people turned out to this afternoon’s protest in front of Parliament House
(Alþingishúsið) in the Icelandic capital. It is therefore the biggest economic protest so far, with some two percent of the entire nation in attendance.
A variety of speakers took the stage to demand early elections and a change at the helm of the Central Bank, among other things.
The atmosphere was energetic and peaceful, with lots of young families also taking part. Many protesters had again made banners, and several carried EU flags.
During the rally, a large banner was unfurled from a nearby building, calling for the downfall of capitalism and a return to equality. The speaker onstage asked those responsible to show their faces; but although they didn’t, their sentiment drew a loud response.
When the rally finished, and the families filtered away, protesters gathered at the doors of parliament, shouting for new elections. Some threw eggs and toilet paper at the building, and a pile of rubbish was set on fire in the doorway.
Organisers pleaded for everyone to meet again in the same place at 15.00 next Saturday, and for every person to “bring an extra 50 people along with them”.
Photo: mbl.is/Júlíus
I kiiiilled the light (Lights, Camera, Action!)
Such civilized protests. Maybe the government–Mr. Haarde especially, will step down and just go away, far, far away.
Vive la revolution!
In the news they said 8000.
I hope you keep this link, so related to the moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPdX2WYH4t4
Well, there is hope.
Let us just hope that people are not protesting against government “giving concessions to foreigners” or something similarly stupid. God knows they have been fed a lot of the nationalistic garbage from iceland media and government in past few weeks.
Calling for the downfall of capitalism does not give me a lot of confidence in iceland economy and willingnes to repay debt, BTW.
Why is that hard times like these always bring out the freeloaders who will trash where they live and want everything for free.
Bono said once: Fuck the revolution!
6000 people in the square and this is all that you can say??? Július where you there? or where you at the concert of Bubbi? very distateful.
Mr Brown.
Mr darling
Letter of intent:
Dear Sirs, I hearby notify you of your lameness.
You have made me an terroist, even though you didn’t probably intend to, is this how you create Terrorists?
I will be fully aware that any actions I may take may have gross and probaly be damaging on the general English public, which is unfair. I will therefore try to minimize this factor as much as I can.
please notice, I have no intent to harm the general public of your country, but I herby decleare, ENGLAND as an Terrorist state.
Sorry for bothering you.
The Protest was done by people who want ELECTIONS And a new Government with NEW Finacial RULES. WE feel as much cheated by the Government as the British or Dutch savers do. Please IMF don’t help us until the same people who have ruined this country are still ruling! But help us to get rid of them.!
@ bc123a I think you are one off those people who lives in a housing estate and nobody likes because you always moaning about everything. Just have hope things always work out in the end.
Massimo – Well, why don’t you have an online petition to protest against your government, if 70000 people sign up (as for the one against the UK) then you surely can’t be ignored any longer by your government!
Why not protest outside the homes of your three former bankchiefs? It is no question about the resignation of the government and ofcourse the ignorant boss of Sedlabanki. Welcome to the European Union and the EURO.
Sorry if I did insult anyboby. I wish Iceland all the best with new leaders. I wish ofcourse Iceland welcome to the EU.
‘I wish of course Iceland welcome to the EU.’ I do not welcome ANY new country, into the EU, until they show that they have a responsible banking system, low government corruption and inflation below 3%.
Stan, I dont think anyone will be looking to you to welcome Iceland into the EU anyways.
will the opposition party do better than the right wing?
Will there be any new options?
Hope in the future the Minister of Finance will find some expert in finance rather than a vet..and the central bank chief should find someone who is specialized in this field rather than a politician..
Otherwise will any progress be made if a famer is chosen to replace the vet, and another politician to replace David…
Human resource, key to intelligience!
Afram Iceland!
i just want to clear one thing up… People who know nothing about Iceland keep saving before the banking collapse that the Icelandic krona was way overvalued against different currencies .IT WAS NOT.
If you look back to the years before we had international banking our currency WAS STRONG..
The major changes were more due to other countries economies.
Most curreny converter sites have charts were you can see how currencies have changed in time.
Saying that in the last years the krona was changing + and – against currencies very much sometimes 3 to 5 % in one day ,usually around the beginning/end of the month .probably when large sums of money moved in and out of the country.
Curreny speculators almost held the crystal ball in their hands.
Oh great! …thanks a lot, Stan. I guess this means that the hopes of the USA to join the EU are crushed. Maybe we can rethink our Cuba policy.
low government corruption …………STAN, im sure your government is squeeky clean?
WE DONT WANT TO BE IN THE EU
‘I guess this means that the hopes of the USA to join the EU are crushed.’ Idiot statement! USA has ZERO interest in joining the EU. Later, when Turkey, Israel and the Russian Federation make stronger attempts to join EU, the ‘real’ struggle starts for the EU, on top of supporting 10 new Eastern European countries that have 15-20% inflation, in the Baltics for example. Given Icelands problems, you will have 70 or 80% inflation.
I do not welcome ANY new country, into the EU, until they show that they have a responsible banking system, low government corruption and inflation below 3%.
I agree with Stan
1. Iceland is not ready to join EU because of the current status of our economy and the wery obvious need to replace most of our government
2. I would want to wait and see how EU cope with the crisis, its quite posible that they will soon be in serious trouble, our long term future prospect is extreamly positive, i dont think i can say the same for EU,
the only reason to join would be the euro
absolutely nothing else.
“People who know nothing about Iceland keep saving before the banking collapse that the Icelandic krona was way overvalued against different currencies .IT WAS NOT.
If you look back to the years before we had international banking our currency WAS STRONG..
The major changes were more due to other countries economies.”
This may be, but the problems started after the privatization, when the banks went international. And then, the high interest rates and the high inflow of foreign currency resulted in an overevaluation of the krona:
“In a small economy like Iceland, high interest rates encourage domestic firms and households to borrow in foreign currency; it also attracts carry traders speculating against ‘uncovered interest parity’. The result was a large foreign-currency inflow. This lead to a sharp exchange rate appreciation that gave Icelanders an illusion of wealth and doubly rewarding the carry traders. The currency inflows also encouraged economic growth and inflation; outcomes that induced the Central Bank to raise interest rates further.
The end result was a bubble caused by the interaction of high domestic interest rates, currency appreciation, and capital inflows.”
http://www.voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/2549
“WE DONT WANT TO BE IN THE EU”
Dunno if we really want you, too. And come to think of it, why is Europe so generous to let Iceland participate in EFTA and in the Schengen treaty? What have Icelanders ever done for us? Hey, how would you like to apply for a visum first if you want to visit Europe, and for your businesses to be treated like those of Banana republics?
Ok, I’m not serious. And of course you don’t have to join Europe if you don’t want to. But a bit of gratitude would be nice.
Iceland is too SPECIFIC country to enter current UNIFORM and bureaucratic EU.
It would destroy its fishing industry (restrictions from EU), its agriculture(very difficult,expensive and greenhouse tomatoes from Iceland can hardly compete with tomatoes from for example Spain-grown in polythene greenhouses anyway!!!). Somebody can ask why to care about agriculture which employs just about 5% population – first it can employ more percent in the future (maybe some redundant people from banks will start to breed Icelandic horses-very popular and in demand in whole Europe-hot future export article-and it is just an example), second the farms are connected to tourism and third – where is no agriculture there is dependence on another countries and on import (so bigger demand to get foreigner currency from something else).
They do not need to enter EU to get an open market – they already have it (they are in EEA) – and it is the only thing what they need. EU would check their skyr if they can really call it skyr (we had to change some names of our foodstaffs in Czech-according EU edict-they probably can speak better Czech than we do) or they would check their beers and probably would say that this is not pilsner beer accordning EU-rules. By the way – I am desperately looking for both skyr and beer Thule in Denmark where I am currently living and cannot find them – so another challenge for Icelandic exporters.
EU does not help at all – when my country entered the EU in 2004, we expected some help – but we got only lots of stupid EU-regulations and restrictions and open market for our goods – so we have to help ourselves. And the same have to do Icelanders. Do not expect help from anybody – and twice not from bureaucratic institution.
I just hope that those 75% Icelanders wishing to enter EU will change their mind in the near future. You are a great, hard-working and well educated nation – so be yourself and do not sell your and future generation’s independence for some doubtful promise of keeping your wealth from those eurooptimists.
Somebody here is trying to convince you that you are not enough good to enter the EU but I would say that the EU is not enough good you to enter it.
Áfram Ísland!!!
“EU does not help at all”
Says the guy who is working in Denmark! Without the EU, you could only work there illegally on a tourist visa. If you would get a visa at all. Strangely, billions of people all around the world would love to have the chance to be EU citizen and have no restriction on chosing the nation in which they want to work. But don’t despair about the EU – you still have the chance to apply for a green card in the US, Canada or Australia. Good luck!
“but we got only lots of stupid EU-regulations and restrictions and open market for our goods”
You’re right on the regulations (even though some, like the ridiculous banana rule, have been rescinded recently), but the open market is nothing, no? You would prefer your country to sell goods to Russia, like in the past? Well, I guess your government had another opinion on that…
Radek get real.
Most of EU rules in HACCP, Financial and Health are the same for all EEA countries.
Otherwise nobody will be trading with you.
Such rules are made to protect you as an individual. Like that, Banana Republic Countries can’t cheat on their own citizens.
But believe me when I say that Iceland will be never part of EU. NEVER! The pigs over their have to much to loose! They will have to hand up their CONTROL over Icelanders.
What a shame for such an innocent nation.
@Gray
““EU does not help at all”
Says the guy who is working in Denmark! Without the EU, you could only work there illegally on a tourist visa. If you would get a visa at all.”
I expected that typical “German-like” answer. Dear Gray – I am working in Denmark as a vet for their government – together with colleagues from Iraque, Costa Rica, Egypt, Russia (cannot see those countries in the EU and I can assure you they are here legally – on working visa) – but also from Greece, Spain, Poland, Sweeden and other EU countries and also from Iceland. I should add that I met lots of workers from your ex-DDR as well. Your – German – working market is for us closed almost five years from our EU-entry and will be closed for another at least more than two years (according Franu Merkel). She keep saying that we can be dangerous for your working market (strange that we are not threat for rest of the Europe – yes – except your Austrian brothers)…but you simply need cheap labour-workshop near your east border…..because who can call it free market where is no free movement of workforce. Iceland is not in the EU – and it allows to work to Poles, Czechs and similar….small Iceland is not scared….but you…the biggest and most eurooptimistic country shuted the door for us.
I know how much Danes “like” Germans…and so do we….I do not want to cheer up nationalism….it is only a reaction on sentences like “You would prefer your country to sell goods to Russia, like in the past?” or similar.
I just wanted to say that for both Iceland and my country it would be better, if all EU would transform itself just into EEA….there would be less bureaucracy, less stupid regulations and similar….we would keep just free market (incl. free working market). I know – it is not enough good for big countries because it would mean less influence on small countries (like Czech Republic or Iceland).
By the way – Denmark is one of the most eurosceptic countries – however I have been here always welcomed by all Danish people….and I have got the same experience from Iceland and other Nordic countries. However I do not have at all such experience from Germany-where I have been always considered even if just like turist like some threat from east….
>>> Says the guy who is working in Denmark! Without the EU, you could only work there illegally on a tourist visa.
Absolute nonsense. Are you suggesting that all the foreigners in Iceland are working illegally on tourist visa?
@ orchafine
I know that HACCP and hygiene regulations are the same for both EU and EEA-however now for example you can at least partially stop import of those “polythene-greenhouse” tomatoes from Spain (putting higher customs on them).I know – it is slightly against free market – however agricultural policy of EU is so spoilt by those subsidies (for example Czech farmers are allowed to get just about half of subsidy what get German farmer….as EU said when we entered we have got advantage cheap labor work force….nobody care that salaries are not the only expenses…..and I guess Iceland could be in the same situation when would enter….they would say your low-currency is advantage for you or something similar).
Regarding your comments to “your pigs”. I think that Davíð Oddsson should definitely quit his place (yesterday was too late) and Geir should find enough courage to take Davíð from his place….otherwise he is not a real leader of Iceland. This should be the first step…..then there should be cleaning up of this mess and then another election (not opposite order). Election in crisis times reflect more people’s anger that wishes where their country should go…remember Germany in 1930s.
Anyway – it is just up to you Icelanders where you country will be going….but it will be JUST UP TO YOU until you would enter the EU (and loose your independence). Then you will have to first ask Brussel if you can do something….but as I say…IT IS JUST UP TO YOU ICELANDERS……I just hope your nation will wait with this decision at least until calm down.
Radek, certainly, the EU isn’t perfect, but on the whole I would argue that all member states profit from their membership in the Union – if only because it provides Europe as a whole with a totally different international standing. Europe can fight for her interests much more effectively when European states co-operate within the framework of the Union than if they had to do it on their own.
I know, there is some (only some) talk among eurosceptics in some countries that in the EU it all comes down to a German-French conspiracy. This, however, is nonsense. I think the German influence within the EU and elsewhere is easily overestimated. The French might be slightly more powerful but I wouldn’t overestimate the French might in the world either.
And I agree with you: The German labourmarket should be completely open to people from the Eastern European memberstates. Still, I think it’s maybe fair to remember that the situation of the German economy after the reunification (which was messed up when it comes to the transformation of the East German economy) and during the last couple of years was rather complicated and difficult, putting it mildly. Also, the German trade unions are rather powerful and exerted a lot of pressure on the German government.
But I can see your point.
And when it comes to German unfriendliness… This is certainly a German problem, but the mood and the ‘climate’ and the habits of the people in Germany also heavily depends on where you actually are in Germany. Bavaria is very different from the Ruhr area which in turn is quite different from East Friesland. ;o)
“I can assure you they are here legally – on working visa”
Oops, you’re right, I forgot about that. However, this only supports my view. Withpout the EU, you would have needed a working visa, too. And not everybody gets one.
“Your – German – working market is for us closed almost five years from our EU-entry and will be closed for another at least more than two years”
Because of pure necessity. Germany is still struggling to integrate the 16 million Germans from the former communist east. And at the same time, we’re a direct neighbor, so naturally, many Czechs would first look for job opportunities here. Also, pls don’t forget all the jobs that German companies outsourced to the Czech repulic. All in all, you din’t fare so bad, so cut us some slack.
“I do not want to cheer up nationalism….it is only a reaction on sentences like “You would prefer your country to sell goods to Russia, like in the past?” or similar.”
Excuse me pls, but what do you think is nationalist about this sentence? If the Czech Republic would reject participating in the EU economy, it would have to compensate for the loss of business by strengthening ties with other national economies. Of course, Russia would be the next big choice. This is just a rational arguement, nothing nationalist in it.
“if all EU would transform itself just into EEA”
Why should the EU transform? If the Czech government isn’t happy about membership, they could have tried to become only an EEA member. What’s the problem?
“it is not enough good for big countries because it would mean less influence on small countries”
What nonsense! Actually, it’s the other way around: Small countries have a much higher influence than their population numbers should give them. That’s a well known fact. Never heard of it?
“I do not have at all such experience from Germany-where I have been always considered even if just like turist like some threat from east”
Well, twenty years ago, your people, among others in the Warzaw Pact, WERE the threat from the east. Unlike Denmark and most other European nations, Germany shared a border with communist nations, and Warzaw Pact troops were just a few kilometers away from us. In case of the cold war becoming hot, our country would have been the battlefield, with all the horrible consequences. This constant threat left an impact on many Germans, and the memories won’t fade so easy. Sry about that, but this takes time.
@Peter
The difference btw. your and Gray reaction convince me that really there is no one Germany….there is lots of “Bundesländer”. Thanks for your reply. And – I do not have anything against cooperation btw. European nations – EEA is also cooperation – but there is more freedom than in EU.
@Gray
We have never be offered to become a part of EEA-we were offered either full EU-membership or nothing – the same like all ten EU-countries entering in 2004.
And regarding your comment that you have to introduce 16 milion “Ossies”…..I think that it would just help them if they would feel the competition from their eastern neighbours. They got reach and comfortable life for free….or at least much more easier than we got it….and they do not appreciate it.
Anyway – I could get a working permit in Germany quite easily – however I am no longer interested to work there at all…..and I guess I am not the only one from those “eastern enemies” who scare you even after 20 years….do not worry – we also did not forget about 2nd world war.
Whatever you say, “don’t mention the war” .)
“Whatever you say, “don’t mention the war” .)”
Why not? Iraq war, Iraq war!
See? No problem!
:D
“I think that it would just help them if they would feel the competition from their eastern neighbours.”
Oh, yeah, sure. And you, how do you like the competition by, say, Romania or Albania (no neighbors, I know, but still competition)?
Radek, Czech Republic
Your absolutely right,
you obviously know what you are talking about,
Even if alot of people here in Iceland
are saying they want to join EU now its only because of our Krona, If the damn thing suvives when we float it again every one will forget about the EU,
i like your ideas about exporting more of our products, something we really need to do.
Gray, we have been doing busyness all over the world, including all of Europe
i dont see any reson to think that may change,
i realize that a lot of people dont like Iceland after what has happened but im absolutely sure that we will manage to fix that,
some investors will loose their money but thats just something one can expect in a global finacial crisis, that is an undisputable fact and goes double for banks as we have been seeing time after time lately.
orchafine I agree with you, we have been innocent and controled by greedy pigs, that is one of our biggest problems, for example David Oddson gets 22mil Isk a month for his work in the central bank,
thats more than his college gets in USA, no one knew about that,they keep such info to them selves
for some reason this entire nation has been sleeping and blindly trusting som people, but its safe to say we are awake now and need to make some changes,
its unbelievable how much damage a handfull of idiots can inflict on one nation in such a short time, we will soon owe 4.5 mil Isk per head, because of foreign savings accounts,
thats 13,5 mil per worker, so its safe to say we now need people we can trust to sell the assets of the banks to pay that back, we expect it will take 2-3 years to do that.
@Knowless
I have not been the first one mentioned war – see previous Gray’s comment:
“Unlike Denmark and most other European nations, Germany shared a border with communist nations, and Warzaw Pact troops were just a few kilometers away from us. In case of the cold WAR becoming hot, our country would have been the battlefield.”
I could just add that if there would not be any Second world war, there probably would not be also any cold war (and I would not need to work in DK)…however we should finish otherwise we will finish 1000 years ago:-)
True is, that the 1930s in Germany perfectly shows, how the election in crisis times reflect much more anger of people than their wishes where their country should go…..I doubt they would wish what then happend…….so another reason why Iceland should have election after the situation at least slightly will calm down. There is also a question how many of those people protesting WISH TO CHANGE ICELAND and how many of them is protesting because THEY DO NOT WISH CHANGES (which include that they will loose their comfortable life, jeeps, big houses….everything paid by unreal money)…I just want to say that in such times can very easily win populism.
@Gray
“Oh, yeah, sure. And you, how do you like the competition by, say, Romania or Albania (no neighbors, I know, but still competition)?”
ALL EU and EEA citizens can freely work in the Czech Republic – incl. Rumanians and Bulgarians from their first day of their entry to the EU!!! And they do and we do not mind – the same like we do not mind hardly working Ukrainians (yes – they need working permit – also because this is edicted by the EU-law). The same could Albanians….however they are not interested.
By the way – I could see some places in Denmark where people from ex-DDR excedes numbers of working Poles….and nobody would be ever so brave to call them “competitors on working market or something like that”….you can hear from Danes just “they had diffult past the same like you (Czechs, Poles) did” or similar….how would be difficult to hear such words in Germany.
When I was living in the UK, I met two nice German women living there. They told me that Germany is no longer such nice place to live like it used to – that people changed a lot…so they prefer the UK. I was surprised as I really prefer Denmark than UK…however now I understand them more.
“I met two nice German women living there. They told me that Germany is no longer such nice place to live like it used to – that people changed a lot…so they prefer the UK.”
Well, and I have two Brits in my neighborhood who say the same about the UK, and that they prefer Germany. Only proves that you can’t base a general rule on such a small sample.