Several hundred people gathered outside the Icelandic parliament on Austurvollur Square in Reykjavik yesterday to protest on behalf of struggling householders. The three speakers were very well received by the crowd as they called, among other things, for continued payment strikes.
The protest speakers were Olafur Gardarsson, vice chairman of the Households’ Interest Group, and Bjorn Thorri Viktorsson and Ludvik Ludviksson from New Iceland.
The group’s demands were very clear: no debt write-offs, but fair debt correction for homeowners. Foreign currency house loans should be corrected and transferred into Icelandic kronur. Inflation indexed mortgages should be abolished. And a law should be put in place to stipulate that loan providers cannot repossess property other than that upon which the loan was issued.
According to Reykjavik Police, the protest went peacefully – although perhaps protesters did not make as big an impression as they would have liked, because the police representative talking to mbl.is believed the protesters were part of the In Defence group.
Although the protesters are calling for government action and not for government resignations and new elections; the wintertime Saturday afternoon protests will be too similar to last year’s pots and pans revolution for the country’s leaders’ comfort. The Households’ Interest Group intends to hold similar protests every Saturday afternoon in December.
So, they want increased taxation to pay for an effective transfer of wealth from individuals without foreign loans to individuals with foreign loans. I’m not sure whether that is left-wing or right-wing, progressive or regressive, etc. Any political theorists able to clarify?
WHEN THE NEW TAX SYSTEM START WORKING IN JANUARY, AND ICELANDERS SEE WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT… WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT THEY CAN BUY LESS FOOD AND THAT GASOIL PRICES ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER… RIOTS WILL OCCUR IN ICELAND AGAIN.
THEY NEED TO LOWER TAXES FOR PEOPLE WHO EARNS LESS THAN 350.000 KR A MONTH TO A 30 %. SO THEY CAN BE ABLE TO SURVIVE, AND ALSO INCREASE THE PERSONAL TAX DISCOUNT FROM 42 TO 50 THOUSAND.
IT IS NOT FAIR THAT ICELANDERS HAVE TO PAY SO MANY TAXES WHEN A FEW GET AWAY WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF KRONURS IN THEIR POCKETS
THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE SAME CRAP AS ALWAYS, NOTHING HAS REALLY CHANGE, WELL, YES, MAYBE ONE THING, THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO PAY MORE NOW…
PEOPLE SHOULD PUT ALL THESE POLITICIANS OUT OF THE PARLIAMENT AND CREATE A NEW GOVERNMENT. BECAUSE ALL POLITICIANS THAT ARE THERE MOS OF THEM ARE JUST THE SAME DOGS, THEY DON´T WORK FOR THE PEOPLE THEY WORK FOR THE INTEREST OF THE FEW
ICELAND IS REALLY CONTROLLED BY A MAFIA
“Foreign currency house loans”
95% of of house loans are not in foreign currency. This tiny minority took a gamble and paid lower interest rates because of it.
Jimbo (the original Jim) said:
“So, they want increased taxation to pay for an effective transfer of wealth from individuals without foreign loans to individuals with foreign loans.”
Exactly. After taking the gamble of a lifetime and winning to begin with.
Even the mafia understood that you take the people to the edge. You do not push them over it. Something for the “icelandic politicians” to learn from I think.
I’m just saying.