A policeman directly working for the Police Commissioner is following Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir’s every move, and has been doing since the recent wave of protests began this month.
It is the national commissioner of police who constantly analyses ministers’ safety and decides what security measures are necessary to protect them. It is unusual for any politician in Iceland to be given a constant guard, and DV reports that the PM’s guard is from the elite Viking Squad.
It was not made clear whether other ministers are being provided with covert guards since the protests began, but the Ministry of Finance confirmed to Visir.is that its minister, Steingrimur J. Sigfusson is not under police protection.
Johanna is a good and honest person, every one knows that, she is between a rock and a hard place, stuck between the IMF who think they control the country and the Icelandic people,
the only thing she would probably encounter in public would be pressure over economic issues, as she and her government have not been effective in pursuing criminals that brought this country to ruin and those who helped them in politics and financial supervision.
There has some pogress been made though, but its clear that we are going to have to change the political system.
The “trust” between poiticians is gone now and they are now effectively destroying each other, saving us the trouble.
The elite above politics is dying also because this process is taking to long for them, if we take the IP chief for example, Bjarni, he owns N1 oil company who owes billions as it was loaded with debt prior to the collapse, debt that would have been written off by now and given to the Icelandic taxpayer if things would have gone differently, but if Bjarni wants to stay in parliament a little longer such a move would be ill advised, his problems are bad enough already.
Our enterpreneurs are not doing so well either, Bjorgolfur Thor had to go to money heaven and get 1 bn to inject into the corpse of his Tortola based Bee Teebee company, the one who ownes all his Icelandic assets among other things.
The rest is in deep sh*t aswell, and sinking fast.
In general in Iceland you are safe if you are person that works for a living — but if you are a use less politician, watch out.
Jóhanna has little to fear but there are some idiots and thugs here just like any where else although I doubt they are interested in her personally.
More likely damange of cars and Althingi windows.
Those thugs will go to jail cell and then to talk to a judge about criminal damange.
I am an American of Nordic ancestry. I have visited Iceland many times and recommend it as a “way stop” to all traveling to Europe. Stay a few days or weeks, each way!
I agree with Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson’s comment. This need for security for the PM is a slap in the face to the Icelandic (and Nordic) traditions. I have always viewed Icelanders as the examples and protectors of that tradition, as represented by the fact that it is the world’s oldest democracy. Even with the tough economic times, there is no excuse for abandoning who we are. We have survived many worse economic times in the past while developing a culture that is a shining light to others.
What is more valuable to YOU? Is it what you own? Or, is it who you are?
This does not reflect the Iceland I know! I’m always a little embarrassed when Icelandic leaders visit Canada and are accompanied by RCMP officers for their protection. Iceland is a very different kind of place, where the leaders move about freely among the citizens, so it troubles me deeply that the police feel it necessary to provide protection for the prime minister. I empathize with the anger and fear of those people whose well-being has been harmed by the economic crisis, I agree that leaders in government and business must be accountable for their actions, and I understand that there are robust differences of opinion about how to move forward as a nation. However, if the prime minister cannot walk safely down the street, then my cousins and friends have lost something far more precious than their money!