Comments on: Axis of Evil Update. http://ssy.org.uk/2010/01/axis-of-evil-update/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:00:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Stuart http://ssy.org.uk/2010/01/axis-of-evil-update/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Stuart Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:43:36 +0000 http://ssy.org.uk/?p=494#comment-127 I don't think Iceland should pay a penny of the money as ordinary citizens should never be made to suffer for the greed of private banks. However, as David says, the government (in which Left Green leader Steingrimur Sigfusson is Finance Minister) did reach an agreement with Britain and the Netherlands which they claim is necessary to Iceland's economic recovery and getting access to international loans. The Independence Party is opportunistically condemning the government for this (even though they are the party that created the mess in the first place) and had themselves, I believe, called for the President to veto the bill. That he's now done so will inevitably cause trouble for the government and if they lose the coming referendum they may feel pressured to resign - potentially paving way for the IP's return since they've again been ahead in some polls. Many Left Green members of course do oppose the Icesave deal but the party has felt it has no choice but to support it in order to keep the government together. Clearly the Social Democrats believe it is easier to accept the unreasonable terms being imposed on Iceland and gain access to IMF loans than to go it alone and risk being ostracised by Britain and by the EU (which they want to join). But I think they can wave bye bye to any hope of becoming an EU member anyway since public opposition keeps growing and at the moment there's no way most would vote in favour in a referendum. A good site to follow what's going on is the blog: http://icelandweatherreport.com There's also the news site: http://icelandreview.com Some news in today is that the Independence Party again seem to have changed their minds and say there shouldn't be a referendum after all now that other countries and international organisations are warning of serious consequences should the repayment bill not be passed. And a new poll has found majority support for the sitting government: 28.7% support for the Social Democrats and 24.6% for the Left Greens. The Independence Party meanwhile have 31.1% support. As for factions opposed within the Left Greens I think there were one or two MPs from the party who voted against the Icesave bill but most have fallen in line with the party leadership. I don’t think Iceland should pay a penny of the money as ordinary citizens should never be made to suffer for the greed of private banks. However, as David says, the government (in which Left Green leader Steingrimur Sigfusson is Finance Minister) did reach an agreement with Britain and the Netherlands which they claim is necessary to Iceland’s economic recovery and getting access to international loans. The Independence Party is opportunistically condemning the government for this (even though they are the party that created the mess in the first place) and had themselves, I believe, called for the President to veto the bill. That he’s now done so will inevitably cause trouble for the government and if they lose the coming referendum they may feel pressured to resign – potentially paving way for the IP’s return since they’ve again been ahead in some polls.

Many Left Green members of course do oppose the Icesave deal but the party has felt it has no choice but to support it in order to keep the government together. Clearly the Social Democrats believe it is easier to accept the unreasonable terms being imposed on Iceland and gain access to IMF loans than to go it alone and risk being ostracised by Britain and by the EU (which they want to join). But I think they can wave bye bye to any hope of becoming an EU member anyway since public opposition keeps growing and at the moment there’s no way most would vote in favour in a referendum.

A good site to follow what’s going on is the blog: http://icelandweatherreport.com
There’s also the news site: http://icelandreview.com

Some news in today is that the Independence Party again seem to have changed their minds and say there shouldn’t be a referendum after all now that other countries and international organisations are warning of serious consequences should the repayment bill not be passed. And a new poll has found majority support for the sitting government: 28.7% support for the Social Democrats and 24.6% for the Left Greens. The Independence Party meanwhile have 31.1% support.

As for factions opposed within the Left Greens I think there were one or two MPs from the party who voted against the Icesave bill but most have fallen in line with the party leadership.

]]> By: Andy Bowden http://ssy.org.uk/2010/01/axis-of-evil-update/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Andy Bowden Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:43:33 +0000 http://ssy.org.uk/?p=494#comment-126 Yeah, I heard bizarrely that the Independence Party is backing non-payment. Does anyone know if there are factions/currents in the Left Greens which oppose paying the IMF? Yeah, I heard bizarrely that the Independence Party is backing non-payment. Does anyone know if there are factions/currents in the Left Greens which oppose paying the IMF?

]]> By: David http://ssy.org.uk/2010/01/axis-of-evil-update/comment-page-1/#comment-125 David Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:30:29 +0000 http://ssy.org.uk/?p=494#comment-125 A good article, and indeed if we were there for sure we would campaign + vote against giving the money back. Only complication is that the government of the "Left" (social democratic alliance + green left movement) is in fact in favour of paying the money back. Cap-in-hand to the IMF etc. The president who vetoed the bill is an ex-CPer ('People's Alliance) but has a separate role elected separately (and well before) the current government. A good article, and indeed if we were there for sure we would campaign + vote against giving the money back.

Only complication is that the government of the “Left” (social democratic alliance + green left movement) is in fact in favour of paying the money back. Cap-in-hand to the IMF etc.

The president who vetoed the bill is an ex-CPer (‘People’s Alliance) but has a separate role elected separately (and well before) the current government.

]]> By: Andy Bowden http://ssy.org.uk/2010/01/axis-of-evil-update/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Andy Bowden Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:02:26 +0000 http://ssy.org.uk/?p=494#comment-124 Aye! Or to be more strict, working people of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland in their own respective countries ;) Aye! Or to be more strict, working people of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland in their own respective countries ;)

]]> By: fiannanahalba http://ssy.org.uk/2010/01/axis-of-evil-update/comment-page-1/#comment-123 fiannanahalba Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:14:14 +0000 http://ssy.org.uk/?p=494#comment-123 Do you mean Scotland when you say we? Do you mean Scotland when you say we?

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