The two coalition parties, the Progressive Party (Framsókn) and the Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn), will continue to work together, reports Fréttablaðið. The two parties reached an agreement yesterday evening. Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, former agriculture and fisheries minister, has been appointed Prime Minister.
During a press meeting yesterday, Sigurður Ingi insisted he is not Sigmundur Davíð’s pawn, as many have suggested, and said he will not “be controlled by a back-seat driver”.
It was also revealed that Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, an international monetary economics and former advisor to Sigmundur Davíð, has been appointed minister, a post many had anticipated that MP Ásmundur Einar Daðason would secure.
According to Bjarni Benediktsson, minister of finance and leader of the Independence Party, snap elections are expected to be held this autumn. “We intend to meet the public half way and hold elections this autumn.” The exact date is yet to be determined.
The opposition parties were extremely unhappy with the arrangement and intend to go ahead with a vote of no confidence. However, the government has a comfortable majority and Bjarni said yesterday the motion will be rejected with 38 votes against 25.
The two coalition parties, the Progressive Party (Framsókn) and the Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn), will continue to work together, reports Fréttablaðið. The two parties reached an agreement yesterday evening. Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, former agriculture and fisheries minister, has been appointed Prime Minister.
During a press meeting yesterday, Sigurður Ingi insisted he is not Sigmundur Davíð’s pawn, as many have suggested, and said he will not “be controlled by a back-seat driver”.
It was also revealed that Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, an international monetary economics and former advisor to Sigmundur Davíð, has been appointed minister, a post many had anticipated that MP Ásmundur Einar Daðason would secure.
According to Bjarni Benediktsson, minister of finance and leader of the Independence Party, snap elections are expected to be held this autumn. “We intend to meet the public half way and hold elections this autumn.” The exact date is yet to be determined.
The opposition parties were extremely unhappy with the arrangement and intend to go ahead with a vote of no confidence. However, the government has a comfortable majority and Bjarni said yesterday the motion will be rejected with 38 votes against 25.
