The Icelandic government is set for a shake-up in the next few days; probably today or when parliament returns for the first day of the autumn term tomorrow. There will be two fewer ministers than at present.
Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir has spoken with all of her Social Democrat MPs yesterday and last night, Visir.is reports.
Althingi’s General Committee submitted a bill yesterday that would change the organisation of ministerial powers and it is highly likely that the bill will become law during the September session of parliament which begins tomorrow.
According to the bill, the health ministry and the social affairs and insurance ministry will unite to form a Ministry of Welfare and the justice ministry and the transport and communications ministry will together become an Interior Ministry.
According to Visir.is sources both of the country’s unelected ministers, Gylfi Magnusson (Minister of Trade) and Ragna Arnadottir (Minister of Justice), will be relieved of their duties. Both were drafted in to the government as experts in their fields following the banking collapse.
The controversial Ogmundur Jonasson is set to return to the cabinet for the Left Greens, and his party colleague Jon Bjarnason looks likely to remain in the cabinet despite calls from some for him to leave.
So that both government parties remain equal with five ministers each, the Left Greens would have to sacrifice one. The likeliest candidate to leave the cabinet is Alfheidur Ingadottir, the Minister for Health.
It is also thought Transport and Communications Minister Kristjan Moller will leave the cabinet.
Sources close to the government say that social affairs minister Arni Pall Arnason will remain in the cabinet and that Oddny Hardardottir will join for the Social Democrats.
There are currently 12 ministers, but the General Committee bill will see that number drop to ten. The committee is taking more time to work on its idea for an employment ministry which would see further mergers and the total number of ministers eventually drop to nine. It is assumed that the biggest of the two coalition parties would then hold a cabinet majority.
>” According to Visir.is sources both of the country’s unelected ministers, Gylfi Magnusson (Minister of Trade) and Ragna Arnadottir (Minister of Justice), will be relieved of their duties. Both were drafted in to the government as experts in their fields following the banking collapse. ”
Two of the actually competent minister are getting the chop.
NOt that surprising but still disappointing.
Jóhanna and Steingrímur J don’t have long left in the govenment seats but we will be suffering of the laws they did import –from Norway Left party ( like ban lap dancing and quota of women on company boards ) and that one did pass for Dutch government about tax rates here — for next year or so at least.
Fisy “we will be suffering of the laws they did import –from Norway Left party ( like ban lap dancing and quota of women on company boards )”
When you compare it to the legacy of your beloved Independence Party (corrupt political, media, education and banking systems. National bankruptcy and a worthless currency), I can see why you are so angry at your governing party.
There is no reason for Fisy to blame the left green government in Norway for the womens quota, as it was the party Høyre – “the Right” that brought it to rule. Lap dance – I don´t think it is a big issue here.