Former prime minister Geir H. Haarde will start his new job as Iceland's ambassador to the United States in January. Geir was the chairman of the Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) from 2005 to 2009 and the prime minister when Iceland's economy collapsed in October 2008.
Geir was heavily criticised in a report done by the parliament's Special Investigative Commission (SIC) into the financial collapse. Geir was accused of negligence along with three other ministers in his cabinet and in the autumn of 2010 the parliament voted 33–30 to indict him. He was the only minister indicted.
Geir was was convicted in April 2012 on one of six charges after standing trial before the National Court Landsdómur, a special tribunal that handles cases when government ministers are suspected of misconduct. He was found guilty for not holding cabinet meetings on important state matters but faced no punishment, as this was a minor offence according to the court.
Geir was Iceland's foreign minister from 2005 to 2006.
The Independence Party was voted into government again in the 2013 parliament elections after being part of the oppostion for one term, from 2009 to 2013.
Former prime minister Geir H. Haarde will start his new job as Iceland's ambassador to the United States in January. Geir was the chairman of the Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) from 2005 to 2009 and the prime minister when Iceland's economy collapsed in October 2008.
Geir was heavily criticised in a report done by the parliament's Special Investigative Commission (SIC) into the financial collapse. Geir was accused of negligence along with three other ministers in his cabinet and in the autumn of 2010 the parliament voted 33–30 to indict him. He was the only minister indicted.
Geir was was convicted in April 2012 on one of six charges after standing trial before the National Court Landsdómur, a special tribunal that handles cases when government ministers are suspected of misconduct. He was found guilty for not holding cabinet meetings on important state matters but faced no punishment, as this was a minor offence according to the court.
Geir was Iceland's foreign minister from 2005 to 2006.
The Independence Party was voted into government again in the 2013 parliament elections after being part of the oppostion for one term, from 2009 to 2013.
