Twenty seven new people will be entering the Icelandic Parliament, Althingi following yesterday’s elections. Of the 63 elected to Althingi 26 are women, or 43 percent. Eight of those who sought re-election did not get through. Both of the parties in the governing coalition managed to improve their position and the Independence Party lost a big part of their votes since 2007.
Election letter B – Framsóknarflokkurinn (Progressive Party), 27.699 votes or 14.8% and 9 seats (an increase of two)
Election letter D – Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (Independence Party). 44.369 votes or 23.7% and 16 seats (lost nine MPs)
Election letter F – Frjálslyndi flokkurinn (Liberal Party), 4148 votes or 2.2% and no seats (lost four)
Election letter O – Borgarahreyfingin (Civic Movement), 13.519 votes or 7.2% and 4 seats (brand new party elected for the first time)
Election letter P – Lýðræðishreyfingin (Democracy Movement), 1107 votes or 0.6% and no seats (brand new party running for the first time)
Election letter S – Samfylkingin (Social Democratic Alliance), 55758 votes or 29.8% and 20 seats (two more MPs than last time)
Election letter V – Vinstri Grænir (Left Green Movement), 40.580 votes or 21.7% and 14 seats (gains five more parliamentarians)
Empty ballots counted 6226 or 3.2%, not valid 528 or 0.3% total votes casted were 193.934. Registered voters in Iceland are 227.896 that means that some 85.1% voted yesterday.
I predict this may come out better than any are predicting. We don’t want to jinx it when you are overly optimistic and the media need to lower our expectations as a way to suppress the vote.
[…] Iceland elections, conclusion […]
[…] Iceland elections, conclusion […]
ThinkAboutIt, yes I am not sure it apply to Easy really, but I think it is a good description.
I not take credit for it though. But sure original coiner does not mind.
And looks like Iceland civil service still got the right idea about natural resources. It so obvious it shock me that squabble of Left Green and Social Democrat about oil and gas is issue at all.
“Iceland Requests Larger Portion of Continental Shelf”
http://icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=323624
Steingrímur and colleague ideas in this area of policies are so crazy it make my ears bleed!
“Fisy, I’m aware of some governments that use secret funds in an attempt to influence public opinion in countries that have interests (notably US, Russia maybe China, even smaller countries”
CHINESSE DON´T WASTE MONEY IN POLITICS, THE JUST DO MASS KILLINGS, IT IS EASIER AND CHEAPER. THEN THEY PLASTIFY THE BODIES AND SELL THE TO US AND EUROPE FOR THOSE EXHIBITIONS WHERE YOU CAN SEE HOW PEOPLE LOOK IN THE INSIDE, EVEN PREGNANT WOMEN…
NOW IN ICELAND IF YOU WANNA EAT AND WORK, YOU WILL HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE GOBERMENT IN CHARGE, IT IS THAT OR THE EXILE. AND BE CAREFUL, YOU WONT EVEN BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR MONEYS OR POSSESIONS WITH YOU!!
ICELNADERS ARE TRAPPED IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THIS IS LIKE URSS, NORTH-KOREA AND CUBA ALL TOGETHER!!
IF THE OCEAN WASN´T THAT COLD UP HERE ICELANDERS WOULD ALREADY HAVE STARTED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN PNEUMATIC BALSES!! BECAUSE MANY WANT TO LEAVE BUT DON´T EVEN HAVE MONEY TO DO SO!!
THAT BAD!!
FISY “This has always worked out for us in whole modern history. Why stop now? There have been worse times and bigger threatening bullies and our forefather never think at it any other way.”
YES FISHY, BUT THIS TIME YOU ARE A RUINED COUNTRY SURVIVING ON INTERNATIONAL AID. SO, YOU HAVE TWO OR MAYBE THREE SOLUTIONS:
1. TRY TO JOIN THE EU ( YOU WONT GET IN IN A MILLION YEARS).
2. SELL YOUR COUNTRY ( OR WHAT IS LEFT OF IT ) TO CHINA OR INDIA.
3. MASS MIGRATION TO OTHER COUNTRIES. CANADA AGAIN?? WELL, MASS MIGRATION OF ICELANDERS ABROAD IS ALREADY HAPPENING. IT IS THAT OR TRY TO SURVIVE IN ICELAND WITH A MORTAGE YOU CANNOT PAY AND A MISERY OF UNEMPLOYMENT PENSION THAT IS NOT EVEN ENOUGH TO FEED YOUR KIDS.
4. MASS SUICIDE. JUST INCREASE A LITTLE BIT THE RECORD OF GUINESS HIGHEST RATE OF SUICIDE IN THE WORLD YOU HAVE. DON´T WORRY, THE REST OF THE WORLD WONT EVEN NOTICE IT.
5. REPOPULATE ICELAND WITH CHIMPANCES SO WE CAN SAY THAT FINALLY SOME KIND OF INTELLIGENT HOMINIDAE HAS PERMANENTLY ESTABLISHED IN THE AREA.
Fisy said: “there’s no place like EU.. there’s no place like EU”
That is the best description of the pro EU mindset I have heard. I nearly spit out my coffee. Now remember to click your heels together three times ;-)
>As a former Swedish PM said – Tage Erlander – the main goal of a government is to make a dancing floor for the people.
But not in Iceland because pole and lapdancing is banned by Red-Green “emeregency” government already.
>As I said it before, its not about what I want aor what you want, Iceland WILL join EU, its just a fact
Easy no matter how many times you say it — this not like Wizard of Oz — “theres no place like EU.. theres no place like EU”
less and less countryman convinced by fear or actual reasons given that it is a good deal.
I know you are in depressed mood about situation but think more positive.
“If we enter any agreements we should do it as equals, not a small rock that needs to be saved.”
This has always worked out for us in whole modern history. Why stop now? There have been worse times and bigger threatening bullies and our forefather never think at it any other way.
@Alexander
As I said it before, its not about what I want aor what you want, Iceland WILL join EU, its just a fact, and it will join under the UE conditions thats another fact, it is as simple as that, my argument is not about if Eu is good or bad for us if they are the most evil thing on earth or if they are the most beautifull thing on earth, as I have said it before I AM NOT for the EU, you would know that If you could read, but Iceland WILL join the EU, doesnt matter if you surrender or not. Because guess what its not about you or Fisy or me.
Easy!
There is an easy solution for you – you can join EU at any time by moving over there :-)
I’m – a foreigner – would stay on rocks with Fisy and ThinkAboutIt here and will never surrender to EU (which exists only in peoples minds and FOR politicians and bureaucRATS serving them).
Maybe it’s just my love of this country but to paraphrase President Manuel Quezon of the Philippines “I would rather prefer Iceland run like hell by the Icelandic than a country run like heaven by the EU” But that’s just me. I think many people who, at first, were willing to give up their freedom of self determination to become part of a larger group for economic security are realising that it did not work.
I just personally don’t want to see Iceland fall prey to something that will basically wipe her from existence.
Times will get better, people will invest again, Iceland’s greatest resource is it’s people O.K. so maybe some (only two or three………..O.K. maybe a couple more;-)) got caught up in stuff that they might not have had any business in. But peoples memories are short. Once the money is flowing again hopefully Iceland’s leaders will take advantage of some of what we are calling problems and turn them into strengths that she couldn’t do if she were under the thumb of the EU.
Easy:
If you take your idea to heart completely why dont we all move off this rock and move to Norway or Denmark?
Why do we persist here?
Remember that it is true that if you see the glass as half empty — that way of thinking closes the mind to opportunity.
ThinkAboutIt point out that our history like all peoples but in some ways more than other peopels full of setbacks — but enough people just kept going and found another way. Always. That is why we are still here — and why we are 300 odd thousdands, and not 30 thousands like Greenlander ( and who even now are going the same way to independence as we fought for ).
In this modern globalized economy more opportunties come form trade and not just in our natural resources of fish, and gas and oil which are coming.
Looking on a small example we are in a good position to become a central point between Europe and US for conferences, as US makes it so much more difficult for foreigner to get in.
We can host data center and store important data of banks and company in EU at better running cost.
There are many things that we can do. This will not come from becoming the same as EU states with all its completely standardising regulations that come from minds of the burecrats and bring all down to same level and taxes up to the same level.
We are small nation but when we have things wanted then others will trade with us and buy it. I see so many website now from individuals and small Icelandic firms that make great stuff or do great new service.
None of this will come from more burecracy, from the minds of politician ( either here at home or in EU ) — it not come from any place except mind and imagination of individual Icelander working together and looking outside to trade.
And again — as I say already reality is that just vaguerys of one single EU directive has been bad enough for country because of all distortion it make and troubles it cause ( Directive 94/19/EC ).
Do we really want all the others to grind down everything so we really *dont* have anything much unique here because we are completely shackled just like others inside EU but only 300 thousands and 0.1% not even a tiny spec of the huge superstate?
@ThinkAboutIt
So are you redy for: “Should we eat our last sheep today or go another day on grass stew?” look I agree with your views as long as you know that “Should we eat our last sheep today or go another day on grass stew?” is what is acctually coming to Iceland if we try to remain “independent” Im ready for it, are you? and lett me tell you this will be a permenent state of this counutry, its not like we go back to shark potatoes and sheep for a while and then everything will be ok, there is no turning back, are you really meaning what you say?, or you are of the ones that think that with lava and fish and potatoes we will be able to get through this crisis AND pay aour debts AND be a powerfull country in the future? and you think that with lamb, fish and potatoes we will be able to also rise up the money to develope gothermal energy industry and every kind of industry that we need to develope our economy? so do you really think you are ready for this: “Should we eat our last sheep today or go another day on grass stew?”
EASY,
So, You believe the people of Iceland are to stupid and/or lazy to change things without the help of someone else? You may wake every morning and say to yourself: LOOK THERE IS ONLY VOLCANIC ROCK AND SHEEP!!! AHHHGGGG!!! I wake up and say: WOW there is only volcanic rock and sheep and that has worked through some D*nm hard times and when I say hard times I don’t mean: boohoo I can’t afford my new car and I have to live with family so we can get by. I mean :Should we eat our last sheep today or go another day on grass stew?
Is it fair that we Iceland is given such hardships? I say: Why not, what is fair? Do you not believe the people of cannot overcome these problems without turning to someone else to act like a parent to them? I think Island has a great future, one that is not dictated by a nanny superstate. If we enter any agreements we should do it as equals, not a small rock that needs to be saved.
The Kreppa is a learning experience, we should not just pick up our toys and go crying to mommy just because we skinned our collective knee. Instead we should say: O.K. that was dumb let’s try to be smarter in the future.
Sorry about ranting, I just hate quitters.
@Fisy
You Said: “Why do we want *more* of this EU standards and directives?”
BECAUSE is that or starvation are you blind? its not a matter of choice as it was 1 year ago. stop dreaming and face reallity, there is no chice here doesnt matter what we want, we join EU or we eat volcanic rock, wake up!!! There is nothing, to be able to develope an industry we would need money and NOBODY will lend us money, this is not a powerfull country or rich or bla bla, this is a volcanic rock in the middle of the atlantic with 300,000 people and sheep, and when we had money we decided to invest it in new houses and more new houses aqnd cars and more cars and goodies for our houses, thats all this country has. oh yes and a debt of a big country, thats the only big thing we have.
C.A.K:
>Secondly,Your views on the (lack of) democracy within the EU are right. But still, compared to Iceland, EU is way more democratized.
You seem to be able to hold two contradicting ideas in your head at one time. Or is it that your head is just full of propoganda slogan?
How can it possibly be better for Iceland to have 0.1% of vote in decision making which is what it will have in EU under qualified majority voting and force to take 100% of EU laws with all costs and restrictions that gives?
( I do not joke about this 0.1% it is the figure based on population which is what is used to decide percentage under qualified majority voting. )
There is no more free money coming from EU, like there was for Ireland for example. Germans that prodctiveness support the Euro are starting to rebel about this and very right that is too.
It is not about fish and oil and gas only, it about ability of Icelanders to do anything themsleves without going through EU bureacray.
EU under customers union takes over all negotiations with other countries when you are EU member, decides also how people will live and what standards for everything are.
Having Directive 94/19/EC has been painful enough for the country. Why do we want *more* of this EU standards and directives?
OYSTEN,” There is one thing you should know, “Scandinavia” – or better the Nordic Countries/Areas (NO/DK/SW/IS/FI/GR/FØ/ÅL) are probably more “Scandinavia” than they ever have been. You just don´t understand how this works – there are some codes you don´t seems to know.”
OYSTEN, I KNOW PERFECTLY HOW YOUR FAKE SCANDINAVIAN UNION WORKS, ANYTIME ANY OF YOUR NATIONS HAVE A PROBLEM WHAT THE OTHERS IN THE GROUP DO IS TO TURN THE BACK ON THEM. ICELAND IS RUINED, AND NOW IS POOR, WHAT DID THE OTHER SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES DO?? NOTHING.. THEY JUST TURNED THEIR BACKS ON ICELAND WHEN THE ICELANDIC GOVERNMENT ASKED FOR HELP.
ARE NORWEGIANS SHOWING SOLIDARITY WITH THE SWEDES? NOT AT ALL!!
THEY JUST DON´T CARE, AND THEY ARE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES THAT SPEAK ALMOST THE SAME LANGUAGE AND SHARE BLOOD AND ORIGINS, STILL, THEY DON´T GIVE A **** FOR EACH OTHER…
THE FINNISH, FOR CENTURIES YOU HAVE CONSIDERED THEM AS THE UNDEVELOPED, POOR AND IGNORANT PEOPLE OF SCANDINAVIA, THEY WERE DOMINATED BY THE SWEDES FOR CENTURIES AND THEY STRUGGLED TO GET RID OF THE REST OF SCANDINAVIANS. THEN THEY GOT INTO THE EU, DEVELOPED A GREAT LAST TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY AND SHOW THE REST OF YOU THE BIGGEST FINGER YOU COULD EVER GET.. OH YES, THAT CAME AS A BIG SURPRISE AND SHAME SPECIALLY FOR THE DECADENT SWEDISH SOCIETY. SWEDEN GOING DOWN AS FINLAND GOES UP… HAHAHAHAHA
OLE ISLAND TRYING TO GET RID OF SWEDEN´S DOMINATION AND FAROE ISLANDS WANTING THEIR TOTAL INDEPENDENCE, THEN LOOK FOR GREELAND, THEY ARE JUST ABOUT TO VOTE THEIR INDEPENDENCE…
THE BEST OF ALL WAS DENMARK, THAT COULD NOT TRUST ANY OF THE OTHER SCANDIVANIAN COUNTRIES AND PREFERRED TO GET INTO THE EU THAN TO TRY TO FORM AN SCANDINAVIAN ALIATION…
KAMON OYSTEN, WICH SCANDINAVIAN UNION ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?? YOU HAVE BEEN ******* EACH OTHER, SHOWING FINGERS TO EACH OTHER AND TURNING THE BACKS ON EACH OTHER, AND YOU STILL DO…
LOOK ICELAND, THEY NEEDED YOUR HELP AND YOU LET THEM BEGG CAP IN HAND TO THE WHOLE WORLD AND THE IMF… AND THEN YOU TALK ABOUT BEING RICH AND ABOUT THE SCANDINAVIAN UNION, BLA BLA BLA… ONLY WORDS,,, BECAUSE WHEN ONE OF YOU NEED REAL HELP NO ONE IS THERE TO HELP…
HAHAHAHHA OYSTEN… PLEASE
@ Fisy..
First of all, I am not to keen on EU myself.
Secondly,Your views on the (lack of) democracy within the EU are right. But still, compared to Iceland, EU is way more democratized.
Thirdly, forget those freaking fish already. Iceland needs to get over the past and that whole fishing industry. Instead, Iceland must look forward and try to figure out new and improved ways to make them money. Fishing man, I am not saying Iceland should give it up, but to keep it as a primus-motor.. C´mon – It is so 1979.
The globalization process is irreversible.
AVANTI!
The fact of the matter is no matter if we are pro or against EU, Iceland has no chioce its EU or misery, those are the only choises, so just get over it, I said it long long time ago and I say it again Iceland WILL JOIN EU, thats a fact, not becase we want it or not, or because is good or not, or if it´s in fare termes or not, no matter the terms Iceland will have to accept them and join, it would be better to join Norway but at the end of the day, we will end up joining EU anyways, we have NO way to get out of this situations by ourselves if anybody thinks that he or she is beeing lied or lying to her or himself
>If Iceland joins EU, Iceland will still be able to fish, sell those fish – and perhaps the Icelandic fishing stocks, will even be more democratized than what they are right now.
If you mean democratized as in EU memberstate get access to it as Common EU Resource, that surely will be right.
And it will be just as poorly managed as rest of Europe fishes has been under Common Fisheries Policy and as agriculture has under Common Agricultureal Policy.
If you want see what fisheries for Iceland will be with EU control, talk to North England and Scotsish fisherman. They will lay it out for you.
Yes nature resource control is big deal not just fish but also our oil gas out there but okay let us exclude this from looking at issue of EU.
What I find most funny ha ha in many thing I read from proEU poster on grounds of sheer ignorance of reality is that EU will bring *more* democracy to Icelanders.
EU is most undemocratic entity possible considering it made up of democratic memberstate.
What EU membership bring is loss of liberty — massive nubmers of redtape and costs of that regulations ( EU directives ) from current approx 6% we have now under EFTA membership joined to EEA.
..also it mean our ability to conduct foreign policy and negotiate trade agreement with other country gone.
It mean under qualified majority voting we go from having 100% say in running own lives through 100% own parliament to 0.1% influence over laws in EU superstate of qualified majority voting.
You people say that are crazy if you really think EU membership bring more democracy to Icelanders!
PLEASE ICELANDERS, DON´T GET INTO THE EU AND KEEP BEING A CHEAP COUNTRY. OH MY GOD, NOW IT IS GETTING CHEAPER AND CHEAPER EVERYDAY!! BUT I CAN´T WAIT UNTIL THE KRONA GETS TO 350 PER EURO ( OR MORE) THEN I WILL BUY FIREWORKS AND MAKE A PARTY !! I WILL INVITE ALL MY FOREIGN FRIENDS AND I WILL CONTRACT SOME GOOD CATTERING FROM A GOOD REASTAURANT AND LET PRETTY ICELANDIC WAITER-GIRLS TO SERVE US… IT IS GOING TO BE SO GREAT… MAYBE THEY WILL ALSO DANCE FOR SOME EUROS!!!
I JUST LOVE BEING IN THIS COUNTRY!!
IT IS SO CHEAP TO LIVE HERE* (CORRECTION)
@ Axel.
pro or con EU – I don’t know yet, but please forget those fishing stocks as means to make any decisions from regarding the EU question. It is a rather “altmodisch” way of thinking and dominated by ressentiment.
If Iceland joins EU, Iceland will still be able to fish, sell those fish – and perhaps the Icelandic fishing stocks, will even be more democratized than what they are right now.
I believe a new SD LG gov will be formed may 1st
that is the perfect date because thats labor day
and this is the first time in history the left party’s are able to have a controlling majority,
they have gotten everything they could ever want handed to them, i don’t think they will waste a perfect opportunity,
its very possible that there are some clowns in those party’s but the difference is that they are in a x-ray spotlight now,
all investigations will continue on full pace and the bankers and financial wizards who have fled the country did so not only because of their health,
I don’t see why we should join the EU, that means trading our fishing stocks for the right to use the Euro, but then we don’t have anything to sell so i dont get it ?,
all Icelandic natural resources belong to Iceland,
a fishing quota was distributed to selected people by politicians and the right to use this quota has been used as guarantee for loans to individual company’s and people, most likely in a illegal manner, this is not really a problem,
we can and will change the quota system when we want as we have done in the past, Hafransóknarstofa researches the fishing stocks and makes recommendations how much fish quota is to be distributed every single year, then the MP for fishing and agriculture decides, it can be 1 kg or 1m tons, this quota is a license to fish a certain percentage of a pie that has a variable size, for example there is a ban on cod fishing right now, bottom line, we hold all the cards,
what we intend to do is to make sure our natural resources can not be sold, to take the right to make such a decision away from parliament and give it to the whole population,
so it could only be done with a nation wide vote.
I don´t worry about the people that move from Iceland, as long as we get positive and fun people like Gus instead to inspire us all to do great things we will be ok.
Nikos, the reason EU has no interest in whaling is that there is no money to be made from it,
the only reason some people still want to do this is pride, it will be sad to see the old steam powered whaling boats scrapped, but they are obsolete and will not be replaced.
The Icelandic fishing rights are owned by a few rich people, not the general Icelandic population!
Alexander E – It is the Icelanders that can give the answer on this. It is quite normal that politican try to find solutions on problems. Always just making new questions have never given answers.
There is a lot there have moved to Norway the last months – I am sure to other countries too. This is a problem to Iceland. If you have an easy solution, you must set it in action, and you must do it TODAY.
> GUS – “NIKOS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT SCANDINAVIA IS NOT WHAT IS WAS 35 YEARS AGO”
There is one thing you should know, “Scandinavia” – or better the Nordic Countries/Areas (NO/DK/SW/IS/FI/GR/FØ/ÅL) are probably more “Scandinavia” than they ever have been. You just don´t understand how this works – there are some codes you don´t seems to know.
We more and more acts like a region – inside and outside the EU. The Nordic model is one of many processes, and we see a growing interrest in this.
What do you think would have happen in a restaurant with 5 tables/group of each country in a restaurant? I was in a similar situation in Reykjavik last summer – though we put the tables together at once ;-)
As a former Swedish PM said – Tage Erlander – the main goal of a government is to make a dancing floor for the people.
SIR EURO, I hate to think uncivilised treatment and all the horrors you have have to endure by Icelander. No amount of “research” is worth it!!! I think you should flee as fast as you are able to away from such a terrible place. PLEASE. I’ll even help you pack…… Just to help.
Axel said:
“The major change is that the nation has rejected the capitalist ideas, like the selling of all state owned busyness and natural resources and the idea that its normal for politicians to work for company’s and investors and accept money for that,
we can expect to see a free democratic green Iceland a society that does not tolerate greed and corruption” And pink unicorn and small puppies will sing and dance in peace while together singing songs of the Lilliputians………REALLY Do you really think the egos on ANY of these clowns are smaller than the egos on the old clowns.
Sir Euro Gus.. Although I sometimes think your living in Cloudcoocooland, I also think that your post – because of the humor – is among the best here.
NIKOS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT SCANDINAVIA IS NOT WHAT IS WAS 35 YEARS AGO… NOT THE MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES ARE WHAT THEY WERE 35 OR 40 YEARS AGO…
IT SOUNDS CRAZY BUT YOU CAN EXPECT EVEN RUSSIA TO BE PART OF THE EU IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS…
I PROPOSE ICELAND TO BECOME A QUAKER COUNTRY, WHERE EVERYONE WOULD BE RIDING HORSES AGAIN…
IT IS THAT OR THE EU…
ALEXANDER SAID: “YOUR COUNTRY IS A TOTAL CHAOS AND YOUR SOCIETY HAS SHOWN THAT IT CAN NOT BE ORGANIZED AS ANY OTHER MODERN SOCIETY.
I’m wondering what the heck you are doing among such primitive creatures?”
THE ANSWER IS VERY EASY: MAKING A RESEARCH ON THEM. IT IS A DIRECT RELATION BETWEEN CLIMA AND DIET AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN BRAIN.
SOUTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, SPECIALLY ITALY, GREECE AND SPAIN, HAVE BEEN THE CULTURAL MOTOR OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
OUR CULTURE IS MAINLY BASED ON GREEK KNOWLEDGE. CLIMA INFLUENCED DECISIVELY IN THE WAY PEOPLE LIVED IN ANTIC GREECE, SOCIAL INTERACTION BECAME MORE COMPLEX, THE CREATION OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER WAYS OF COMMUNICATION OPENED NEW WAYS FOR COMMUNICATION. IN THAT CULTURAL REVOLUTION CONTACT AND INTERACTION WITH OTHER CULTURES ( INDIA, EGYPT, PERSIA, ETC…) PLAYED A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE.
GREEK KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURE REALLY MARKS AN AFTER AND BEFORE IN HUMAN EVOLUTION. INTER-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN THE MOTOR FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. PLEASE GO AND VISIT ITALY, SPAIN OR GREECE. THERE YOU CAN FIND ALL KINDS OF ARCHITECTURE THAT WILL SHOW YOU THE DEGREE OF CIVILIZATION THOSE COUNTRIES ACHIEVED. UNIVERSITIES, MEGA- HYDRAULIC PROJECTS, TRANSCONTINENTAL ROADS, STADIUMS, ETC… WHERE CONSTRUCTED WHILE PEOPLE WERE STILL HUNTING AND DANCING AROUND FIRES NORTH OF THE ALPES.
SO YES, THERE IS A DIRECT RELATION IN DIET, CLIMA AND BRAIN FUNCTION AND EVOLUTION.
I AM NOT GOING TO RUSH INTO ANY CONCLUSIONS HERE BUT, THERE ARE MANY CHARACTERISTICS THAT SHOW THAT SCANDINAVIAN SOCIETIES, SPECIALLY THE EXAMPLE OF THE ISOLATED ICELAND, THAT SHOW THAT HUMANS MIGHT BE STILL AT DIFFERENT STAGES.
NORDIC SOCIETIES, AND THOSE OF THE CENTRAL EUROPE HAVE ENRICHED FROM THE KNOWLEDGE ORIGINATED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN EMPIRES OF GREECE, ROME AND SPAIN. STILL, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SOCIETY TO ACHIEVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SOCIAL EVOLUTION IF IT IS NOT BY DIRECT AND INTENSE CONTACT WITH A MORE ADVANCED SOCIAL MODEL.
SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES HAVE HAD VERY LOW INTERACTION WITH OTHER CULTURES, IF WE COMPARE IT WITH THE INTERACTION OF MADITERRANEAN-ASIAN CIVILIZATIONS.
THE GREEK EMPIRE, THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND THE SPANISH EMPIRE HAVE OPENED A WORLD WHERE KNOWLEDGE FROM VERY DISTANT PLACES WAS SHARED. MORE THAN 2000 YEARS AGO CHINESE SCHOLARS DISCUSSED GREEK PHILOSOPHY AND ROMAN ARCHITECTS APPLIED CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES FROM INDIA. YES, THE MAIN CIVILIZATIONS IN HUMAN HISTORY, APPEARED IN THE INDO VALLEY, MEDITERRANEAN SEA, ETC…
ICELAND STILL WANTS TO MAKE ITS PLACE INTO A GLOBALIZED WORLD WITHOUT GOING THROUGH 2000 YEARS OR MORE OF SOCIAL EVOLUTION. MY FIRST AND CONTINUOUS IMPRESSION ABOUT ICELANDERS IS THAT THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE CONCEPT OF BARBARIANS ROMANS AND GREEKS HAD. MEDITERRANEAN CULTURES HAVE BEEN ALWAYS OPEN TO LEARN FROM OTHERS, THAT IS WHY THEY ARE SO RICH. THEN YOU COME TO ICELAND AND YOU FIND A CLEAR COMPLEX OF INFERIORITY OF A SOCIETY THAT HIDES BEHIND A ROMANTIC IDENTITY BASED ON “VIKINGS” THAT CAME TO THIS COUNTRY MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND YEARS AGO.
ICELANDERS HAVE BEEN, SPECIALLY DURING THE LAST YEARS OF FAKE PROSPERITY, VERY CLOSED TO CULTURALLY INTERACT AND ENRICH WITH OTHER CULTURES. THAT IS WHY I SAY THAT YOU CAN SEE AN ICELANDIC YOUNG USING A LAP-TOP AND THE INTERNET BUT HE/SHE HAS NOT THE CULTURAL TRADITION OF OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. NOT EVEN THE SOCIAL INTERACTION MODEL. THAT IS WHY FOR EXAMPLE, ONCE I MET AN ITALIAN STUDENT AND WE WERE SPEAKING ITALIAN AND SUDDENLY THE ICELANDERS IN THE SAME ROOM STARTED MAKING JOKES ON US ( LIKE PIZZA WHATEVER)… THAT IS THE BEST THING THOSE IGNORANT GUYS COULD DO. THEY DID NOT TRY TO INTERACT AND THEY HIDED BEHIND THEIR “VIKING IDENTITY SHIELD” AND THE MOST THEY COULD SAY WERE THINGS LIKE “WE HAVE PURE WATER AND LOTS OF IT”, “WE ARE THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD” AND “WE SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE VIKINGS DID WHEN THEY CAME HERE ONE THOUSAND YEARS AGO”…
WELL, JUST GUESS WHAT THE EXCHANGE STUDENTS ( FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD) THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THE ICELANDERS SAID…
PLEASE ICELANDERS BEHAVE, IT IS BETTER THAT YOU ACT WITH MODESTY AND TRY TO LEARN FROM OTHERS…
>Alex “if its nature and purity vs industry and filth then i choose nature.”
yeap, I completely agree.
By the way, since you mentioned the whales, It just stroke my mind that EU has a _strict_ban_ on whaling (and I’m all for it). This is an obstacle for iceland’s membership that it will be hard or impossible to overcome. A membership should be approved by all the 27 national parliaments. I have at least one parliament in mind that will block the acceptance if there is a proposed opt-out for whaling..
The major change is that the nation has rejected the capitalist ideas, like the selling of all state owned busyness and natural resources and the idea that its normal for politicians to work for company’s and investors and accept money for that,
we can expect to see a free democratic green Iceland
a society that does not tolerate greed and corruption, this means that if Helguvík aluminium smelting will be built it will most likely be the last big industry plant built here,
VG are a environment friendly so they will be against every thing that threatens nature, like EU will probably exterminate our fishing stocks who we have kept safe for decades and fought a couple of cod wars to defend, same goes for whaling and big industry, i used to think all this nature crap was silly but i changed my mind, i voted LG,
if its nature and purity vs industry and filth
then i choose nature.
mmmh …. I think EU matter has both pro and cons:
e.g.
(+)
currency more stable (fixed rate before obtain Euro)
(-)
less fishing related revenues
Best solution, imo: adopt Norwegian Kroner (or the Danish ones) and do not join EU !
Øystein, Norway
Would you please explain what Iceland would gain if joining EU. But in general – to a sister of big Europe bull. What exactly?
EU is a mess right now – look at Leasbon “treaty” and constitution.
It also makes me laugh about the rule of the decision process based on unanimity. Let’s imagine that over fish Iceland would decide to veto. So 300,000 people could screw up the Great Europe? And if other EU members most likely would push, press, kick, bite Iceland to vote Yes – what about Icelandic independence? It will be just a poor province of “united” Europe?
LOL….
PS. But worst of all – no one has an idea what people of Iceland really think. It’s just a “victory” for the politicians but not for people :-(
I quite stronge disagree with one of the firsts commentators, Paolo from Italy.
@Alexander “But nikos, would you explain what EU will bring for Iceland?”
Hey, I just said congrats Alex. I think It’s a new start for Iceland. And probably a move towards the Nordic model that I admire.
I didn’t say anything about the EU. I just responded to Fisy explaining why I think is highly unlikely EU to have provided any funds to the pro-EU parties.
Quite frankly if you ask me, I have no idea what is best for Iceland. In my opinion Icelanders should sum up the pros and cons and decide. I guess the best time to do that is after some negotiations first. It’s really Simple.
lefts will bury Iceland. It happened before in France, Italy, Germany, now again in Spain. Just demagogy, no reality. That ´s the left parties all around Europe. It will be more unemployment than ever in the island, besides more debt.
As much as I hate to say it, but Gus is speaking the truth.
Icelanders have yet to realize, how f*ckt up iceland is and that the rest of the World couldn’t care less for Iceland.
> Fisy “So we have the media now making out that this election all about votes for EU.”
There is no doubt about that. (Personally I even look it as an election about the EURO). We (Norway) will have an election on new government in September – there is a lot speculation on how the Iceland decision will influence on the opinion here.
Though there are some individuals that don´t think so, some main EU countries really wants to catch these two fishes – one small and one bigger. I am really sure that they will give a high bid on the small fish. I am not so sure about the bid on the bigger fish, where money/currency is not the same issue.
EU is also aware of the Nordic cooperations/council, which really have an agenda these days. One of the reason of that is that we realize that each country does not have the wanted influence, but this will work much better through Nordic cooperations. The other Nordics have a better understanding of the situation on Iceland then most of ther rest.
There is also a plan that EEA will include other smaller states, Andorra, Monaco… EFTA IS/NO/SW is working on a free trade agreement on Ukraine. We will have a research on which benefits the EEA agreements hase given us. If the EEA falls, the old free trade agreement will replace EEA. Some say that is better than the EEA.
The influence Iceland can get – is through the negotiations.
One thing I like is to view the political play. I understand you dont´t like the leftises – that is OK. But think a bit further:
Iceland – Norway – Outside EU
Is/No PM – sisterparties – both Pro EU
Finance Ministers – sisterparties – both No to join the EU (they are not against EU)
Dk/Sw/Fi wants us to to join.
Iceland is important on Fish, and can be on other kind of energy.
Norway is very iportant on Gas.
Norways opinion is 20% in favour to NO.
There is also an Icelandic issue on the new service diretive.
I think these points can be a good card for Iceland, where economy is a key factor – and of cource those specific Icelandic issues. I think the eventually agreement with Iceland is a test of how far the EU will go to meet Iceland – but also the rural Norway. Time will show… We do at least have a big embassy in Brussels, just across the parliament ;-)
Today I use a Iceland t-shirt bought in Reykjavik the week everything collapsed…
Sorry SIR GUS. Toooooo many LETTERS.
But thanks for kind words anyway…
I’m wondering what the heck you are doing among such primitive creatures?
Vilhjalm Antonsen, people tend to fool themselves with simple, easy to understand “ideas”.
Like “new government”, “historic election”, “fresh start”, and, of course, magical someone/something that makes a miracle and turns rubbish to gold.
I’m sure that most of those who voted for EU and Civic Movement are rather young people and/or from “service industry”. But not those hard working middle aged and up Icelander who really built the country.
Take it easy :-)
The difference between you and me is simple – I’m more optimistic and realistic than you are. Not because I’m smarter but because I “was there”. I mean – I already experienced several “historic elections” and “fresh starts”, all kinds of crisis etc.
So I can tell you for sure -this is only the beginning of the “fun” ahead. But Iceland in a much better position than other to recover. That doesn’t mean the “new government” is not capable to ruin the country. It’s easy. Especially when country is so divided.
I feel much better and safer now.
But nikos, would you explain what EU will bring for Iceland?
There was one person from Lithuania, Kestas, who was explaining to us how great to be in EU. But he’s not been posting for a month – I suspect EU doesn’t pay for his Internet subscription anymore. So could you tell us what EU’s magic is about?
yeap. The Nordic EU countries would love to see Iceland and Norway joining in, that would strengthen the Nordic block. That’s way the enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn is much in favor.
For the rest of us, there are various opinions. For me It would be quite good, since I like the Nordic model. Err.. I mean the Scandinavic model, Filand’s, Sweeden’s or Norway’s, not Iceland’s current model.
I should add that the model to follow is not an EU issue, it’s up to the individual countries to decide. However a strong prosperous block following that model (the Nordic as I call it) it would be a nice example for the rest of us.
Anyway, this is off topic. In my opinion, and knowing a bit about the complexity of the EU, if there was any such EU secret funding, it would be (a) weird as I cannot see the benefits for the so called “EU elits”, (b) It would be VERY difficult to stop it from leaking out and going public, and (c) it would be a GREAT GREAT DISGRACE.
ALEXANDER, YOU WISH!!
ICELAND WONT GET EASILY INTO THE EU. IT NEEDS A LONG PROCESS. THERE IS NOT SUCH A FASTER WAY, SPECIALLY NOW WHEN THE ICELANDIC ECONOMY LOOKS SO BAD.
AFTER ENTERING THE EU, ICELAND WONT BE AN OVER-THE-AVERAGE COUNTRY ( IN INCOMING ) IT WILL BE, LETS SAY, UNDER THE EU MEDIA.
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ICELANDIC ECONOMY WILL TAKE YEARS. THE ADOPTION OF THE EURO IS A MATTER OF MANY FACTORS.
REMEMBER THAN IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, ICELAND IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS CREATED ITSELF MANY ENEMIES. SPECIALLY DURING THE LAST MONTHS. NO ONE IS GOING TO FORGIVE ANY DEBTS JUST BY THE ACT OF MAGIC.
ICELAND WILL HAVE TO PAY ALL ITS DEBTS, SPECIALLY ITS IFM DEBTS. THE DEBTS WILL BOUND ICELAND TO EU IN VERY SPECIAL WAYS. LETS SAY, ICELAND IS NOT IN A SITUATION TO DICTATE, NOR NEGOCIATE… IT IS ONLY IN A SITUATION OF ACCEPT WHAT WILL BE OFFERED.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE HIGHER SALARIES ICELANDERS WERE ENJOYING, WERE JUST BASED ON A FICTICIAL ECONOMIC GROUND, TOTALLY UNSOLID AND BUILT ON DEBTS.
ICELAND IS IN FACT, NOT A RICH COUNTRY DUE TO MANY POTENCIAL FACTORS THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED ENDESSLY IN MANY OF MY COMMENTS:
-NATURAL RESOURCES NEED TO BE PROCESSED IN A WAY THAT GENERATE INCOME. ALUMINIUM PRODUCTION HAS HIGH COSTS AND LITTLE BENEFIT. IN FACT YOU NEED TO SELL A LOT OF ALUMINIUM TO START SEEING SOME CASH. TO MAKE A COMPARISON, IT IS NOT LIKE THE OIL STRACTED IN NORWAY OR ARAB EMIRATES, WICH IS OF GREAT VALUE JUST AS IT IS. THE PRICE OF ALUMINIUM HAS DROPPED 60% JUST DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS.
-FISHING IS A DEFINITED AND VERY SCATTERED NATURAL RESOURCE. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT, ONLY FISH WONT MAKE ICELAND A RICH COUNTRY, AN ECONOMY BASED ON FISH WOULD LET ICELANDERS EARNING SOME OF THE LOWEST SALARIES IN EUROPE.
-TOURIST INDUSTRY NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED. ICELANDIC TOURIST INDUSTRY GENERATES ONLY 5% OF ITS POTENTIAL INCOME. AT THIS POINT ICELAND HAVE NOT BEEN INTERESTED INTO HELP THE TOURIST INDUSTRY FLOWRISH.
YOU FORGET ALEXANDER THAT ACTUALLY IN TENERIFE THEY USE EUROS. AT THIS POINT TENERIFE IS A VERY EXPENSIVE SPOT FOR ICELANDERS, AND IT WILL BE SO FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. YOU CAN COUNT ON THAT. TRAVELLING WILL BE A DREAM FOR MOST ICELANDERS, SPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS. AND THE DAYS IN WICH ICELANDERS WOULD GO AND BUY STUFF ABROAD BURNING A CREDIT CARD, ISSUED IN A FAKE AND OVERVALUED KRONA, ARE TOTALLY GONE.
THE CRAZYNESS AND THE STUPIDITY IS OVER, NOW THERE ARE ONLY DEBTS. AND THOSE DEBTS ARE HUGE, SO HUGE THAT THEY LOOK INFINITE. ALMOST EVERY ICELANDER IS HIGLY IN DEBT, APART OF THAT, THE GOVERMENT AND THE NATION ITSELF IS IN DEBT. THIS ONLY MEANS POVERTY FOR ICELAND.
IF, AND ONLY IF, ICELAND GETS SOON INTO THE EU, IT WILL BE THE ONLY WAY FOR THIS COUNTRY TO SURVIVE AND HAVE SIMILAR LIFE-STANDARS LIKE IN ANY OTHER EU COUNTRY.
DON´T SPECT ANY INMIGRANTS COMING FROM POLAND TO ICELAND TO BUILD ANYTHING. BECAUSE NOTHING WOULD BE BUILT IN YEARS TO COME. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF EMPTY HOUSES IN REYKJAVÍK NO ONE CAN PAY OR WANTS TO BUY. AS THOUSANDS OF INMIGRANTS ( AND ICELANDERS) HAVE LEFT AND ARE STILL FLEEDING THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE MORE HOUSES OFFERED THAN NEEDED. THIS HAS GENERATED THAT 85% OF THE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN STOPPED SINCE OCT- 2008.
THE HOUSING MARKET TAKES A LONG TIME TO RECOVER. I CAN TELL, AND IT DEPENDS DIRECTLY OF PEOPLE HAVING MONEY TO BUY, PEOPLE HAVING JOBS, ETC…
YOU WILL ACTUALLY GET INMIGRANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IF SOME DAY ICELANDIC ECONOMY REACHES ANOTHER GROWING PATH. BUT THAT IS NOT EXPECTED TO HAPPEN SOON. ICELAND HAS NOW WAGES THAT ARE ONLY COMPARABLE TO THE POOREST EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES OR THE SALARIES OF COUNTRIES LIKE SPAIN OR PORTUGAL 10 YEARS AGO. 1 EURO IS WORTHY 166 OLD PESETAS OF THE 10 YEARS AGO…. AND THE KRÓNA IS TODAY 172 FOR ONE EURO… SO YOU TELL ME, WICH SALARIES ARE YOU HAVING IN THIS COUNTRY.
ALL COMPANIES HAVE REDUCED PEOPLES SALARIES AROUND 10%, AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY ALSO HAVE REDUCED THE WORKING HOURS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO IS WORKING IS JUST EARNING 80% OF WHAT THEY USED TO EARN BEFORE ICELAND WENT BANKRUPT. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER, THAT THEY EARN 20% LESS IN ICELANDIC KRONURS AND THAT THEY EARN 60% LESS IN EUROS THAT THEY USED TO EARN LAST YEAR…
SO BASICALLY, IN SOME MONTHS, ICELANDERS EARN TODAY 30% LESS THAN THE EU MEDIA. THAT SITUATES ICELAND IN THE SAME POSITION THAN COUNTRIES LIKE POLAND, BULGARIA, RUMANIA, ETC… NOT JOKING!!
THE SALARY OF A PRIMARY EDUCATION TEACHER IN GERMANY, SPAIN OR FRANCE:
AROUND 2000 EUROS ( BASIC, STARTING SALARY) 340.000 ICELANDIC KRONURS.
THE BASIC SALARY OF A TEACHER IN ICELAND IS 175.000 ICELANDIC KRONURS = 1029 EUROS APROXIMATLY… SO AS YOU SEE ALEXANDER, I DON´T KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT TO EARN THE ONE THOUSAND EUROS YOU NEED TO BE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS ANYONE ELSE IN WESTERN EUROPE.
AND NOW ALL ICELANDERS ARE STUPIDLY THINKING THAT THE EU IS GOING TO SAVE THEIR ASSES, FORGIVE THE DEBTS AND JUST EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY AGAIN… HAHAHAHAH WHAT A PUNCH OF IGNORANT CLOWNS… THE WHOLE EUROPE IS LAUGHING AT YOUR INCOMPETENT POLITICIANS AND ECONOMIST AND IGNORANT POPULATION… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH :D :))))))
HAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAAH
CONFISCATED MONEY TO BE REPAID TO ICELAND?? SORRY BUT THAT MONEY IS ON THE HANDS OF THE SAVERS NOW, AND IT IS THEIR MONEY, NOT ICELANDIC BANKS OR ENGLISH BANKS MONEY. IT WAS THE MONEY OF PRIVATE SAVERS. SO THIS MONEY WAS NOT ICELANDIC AT ALL.
STILL, ICELAND HAS MANY DEBTS TO SOLVE, NOT ONLY THE MONEY TO BE PAID TO THE SAVERS ALL AROUND THE WORLD. BUT ALSO THE DEBTS THAT ICELAND HAS CONTRACTED IN MANY WAYS, SPECIALLY THOSE DEBTS NAMED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY ( IT HAS TO BE A FASHION BECAUSE ALMOST ALL ICELANDERS OWE MILLIONS IN FOREING CASH) HAHAHAHAHAHA
AND NOW YOU SAY ALEXANDER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET INTO THE EU THROUGH THE BIG DOOR AND THAT THE REST IS GOIN TO APPLAUDE AS YOU PASS DOWN THE ARCH OF TRIUMPH…. HAHAHAHAHAH PLEASE, YOU NEED TO CIVILIZE YOUR SOCIETY FIRST.
YOUR COUNTRY IS A TOTAL CHAOS AND YOUR SOCIETY HAS SHOWN THAT IT CAN NOT BE ORGANIZED AS ANY OTHER MODERN SOCIETY. YOU HAVE VERY LOW INTERACTION ABILITY WITH OTHER HUMAN BEINGS AND CULTURES, YOU HAVE AND UNDERDEVELOPED ECONOMY, AND YOUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT CLAIM TO DIRECT IT DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE TO SITUATE THIS COUNTRY SOMEWHERE ( HISTORICALLY SPEAKING) AFTER THE BEGINNING OF MODERNITY.
YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE IN ICELAND USING A LAPTOP AND GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY, BUT THEN YOU SIT AND TALK TO THEM AND MOST OF THEM SHOW TRACES OF THE HOMO CROMAGNON STILL VERY ALIVE IN THEM…
I DON´T LIKE ANY IDEA THAT SITUATES ANY RACE OR HUMAN POPULATION ABOVE OTHERS. BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT DUE TO THE INTENSE GENETIC ISOLATION ICELAND PRESENTS ONE OF THE HIGEST PERCENTS OF DOWN SINDROME AND RETARDED ( WITH ALL RESPECTS) IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
I ALSO THINK THAT THE CULTURAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL ISOLATION HAS MADE THIS COUNTRY NOT BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION THAT HAS HAPPENED IN EUROPE DURING THE LAST ONE THOUSAND YEARS…
AND NOW YES… KEEP GOING ON WITH YOUR SAGAS AND YOUR VIKING ANCESTORS… BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT YOU STILL ARE…
It would certainly be bizarre if the Left Greens allied allied with the SjalfgraedisFLuckers but anything is possible in Iceland since none of the politicians have any sense, nor for that matter do the 43% or so or 65000+ citizens who voted for the three right wing parties. Don’t Icelanders ever learn anything, what do you have to do, hit them repeatedly with a hammer on the head?
You would have to think Steingrimur Jod likes the attention he has gotten in the past several months instead of being ignored as a back-bencher as he has been for the past 20 or more years, and so would go along with Samfylking even if it means taking his opinions and tossing them in the ocean and acting as a political footstool. Actors would rather perform in a tasteless production of Cats on Broadway than act in Shakespeare in front of an empty audience.
Hi Fisy,
I think Nikos from Greece is correct. I do not believe the EU has given financial support to the SD since, indeed, the EU is not very interested in iceland joining or not.
It is true however that the EU has stated that Iceland could enter the EU really fast if it would apply. This is, off course, a way of supporting the EU-friendly parties but I do not have any evidence that there were financial supports for political forces in iceland. If there were it would be really bad and I would strongly disapprove of it.
Iceland would be insane to join the EU. The greed of the EU would soon take away your fish stocks.
Fisy? O.o
heck No!
Fisy, I’m aware of some governments that use secret funds in an attempt to influence public opinion in countries that have interests (notably US, Russia maybe China, even smaller countries), but I really doubt this is the case.
The commission as a whole doesn’t care. And even if they did care, it’s not up to them to push money for such a purpose, It’s up to the council of prime ministers.
OK, the commission has funds to advertise it’s achievements and to promote some “european ideas” within the union (that’s admittedly a form of propaganda, however it’s nothing unusual), the comission can even fund some cultural events (arts or whatever) in other non EU countries, but that’s desirable, I don’t see anything bad with that. They do it all the time.
I’m not saying the commission is perfect, but EU propaganda funds in Iceland? No way.
Besides there is a strong debate in the EU about the enlargement. There is no consensus, but there are many that believe that no enlargement is possible before sorting out the Lisbon treaty issue. We are 27 now, and the decision process based on unanimity is a real pain in the ass. Sorting out this, might take longer than we hope.
… Another observation. No-one forces someone in and no-one can force someone to stay in. Every country can just get out of the EU any time they want. (If I’m not mistaken Greenland already did it). It’s really that simple.
[…] Nach Zypern und Moldawien wird nun auch Island sozialistisch, oder? […]
Welcome Iceland to our politics. (undersigned).
Any support for that EU-financing-SD point Fisy? If there is, that’d be be pretty damning.
I wanted to say you were wrong when you said that most votes went directly from the IP to the LG, but you weren’t. Still, there were a sizable minority (~45% of those leaving the IP) that likely went to SD. Iceland Review also makes the point that there could be substantial defections within the anti-EU parties (mainly the IP) on the subject of starting negotiations with the EU.
http://icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=323224
[…] gibt es sehr gut auf einen Blick bei IceNews (in […]
That’s O.K. Fisy by next week we shall be reading about how this was a mandate for entering the E.U. I can’t wait for the months of spin on how great it will be.
Good Link Below
w w w . w i m p . c o m / t h e g o v e r n m e n t /
Copy and paste. and close the spaces beteen.
Well I hate to say it but I agree with Alexander and Fisy.
One final comment for you all to think on.
I find it likely that Left Green decide to ally with Independence Party in very near future.
There is going to be huge fallout between Left Green and Social Democrat sooner rather than later. It does not take genious crystal ball to see this.
This is first time hard left parties have received majority in parliament, and egos are going to be inflated as this politicians actually think people are with their policies when infact most have no clue what those are — and so will not give in to each other.
Wether I like his policy or not Steingrímur whole identity based on not giving in so I expect him to keep with his principals and keep EU joining off.
But it clear that Social Democrats are such huge opportunist that they will try and get their way around him. Thus he will be forced to go to others who share his strongly held conviction on this issue.
Do not forget Social Democrats did not choose Left Green in 2007 but instead took opportunism of going into coalition with Independce Party instaad.
Meanwhile as they raise taxes, centralise powers, try to keep currency controls in etc — the people of Iceland are in for rough time.
So we have the media now making out that this election all about votes for EU.
And convenient forget that most votes go directly from Independence Party (no to EU) to Left Green (no to EU).
But vote of Social Democrat remain basically the same as before, and same for Progressive Party. Hardly ringing endorsement of EU membership.
New party Borgarahreyfingin voting complete red hering, but nice try.
But what you have to ask yourself now is where all this new money back to support Social Democrats.
No doubt they are rolling in monies from EU propoganda funds. And more money coming their way. I mean it literally. I not making nudge nudge wink wink idea. Look to how much the EU commission make in monies to them.
Of course I mean to say:
But you forgot that they will also be able to put up a statue in June comemorating the success that within a month or two they pass the law to ban lapdancing… no more prostitution or abuse of women on Iceland!
Exactly Alexander E.
But you forgot that they will also be able to put up a statue in June comemorating the success that within a month or two they pass the law to ban lapdancing… more prostitution or abuse of women on Iceland!
[…] isländska nyvalet är sluträknat och det blev ett svidande nederlag för Självständighetspartiet (konservativa) som förlorade nio […]
Congrats Icelanders.
I wish everything to go better :)
Don’t pay attention to mere lies. Arguing and complaining all day long are our habits.
The wise man said once: “People deserve the government who reflects well their -corrupt, evil, grim, …..- inner self”
[advice: call them ‘prejudical hypocrities’ ;) ]
What period of 1917 do you have in mind, Balkanson?
It’s not October for sure (yet). ;-)
But let´s what people will say about “new” government next October.
Very likely David Odsson will look not that bad by that time…
Good result.
Congratulation Iceland. Stay away from EU,if you want to remain independent. Good job.
I’m relieved. Thanks God to the skyr revolution.
Now new government will apply for EU membership in June, it will be granted in September-October, krona droped, by November all corruption ceased to exists, by Xmas all our mortgages and loans evaporated…ah! All bad debts will be written off – as a welcome gift to the new EU member.
What else? Did I forget anything that stays on our way to happy life? Oh, yes, Britain will reimburse Central Bank of Iceland all it confiscated in October 2008…In pounds at the rate of June 2007!
So next year ALL Icelanders will be able to spend as minimum half a year on Teneriffe or Thailand.
The only problem I’m not sure about – where will we get 15,000 Polish immigrants to build 5,000 new apartments and a couple of new skyscrapers?
What to celebrate? Samfylkingin (Social Democratic Alliance) was in the coalition government which ruined Iceland just last autumn. Have you forgotten that?
In Europe the ”left” has different faces. In Italy, f. ex., had made nothing of good when was at govern. In Iceland ”left” surely works very good. In Italy, when I was born and I living, I am a ”right-man”, but if I’ld Icelandic, my vote ‘ld be at left.
Looks like we are headding for UE.
http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=323224
Til hamingjur. I am glad the elections turned out like they did. I sure hope that the economy will improve for my friends in Iceland as they did not deserve what happened in the past. Look forward to better times.
jeepy!! the “new” goberment which is the one that was in power for the last 3 months, will fix everything it didnt fix in the last 3 months, it was all a bad dream they will make it ALL go away. haha, just wait. its amazeing how little it takes to make happy a bunch of…. well just wait and see.
Great victory.
I hope Iceland will join the EU.
Good luck!
Til hamingjur everyone! You should all be proud of yourselves.
What Iceland has done is remarkable. A nonviolent “revolution” adn teh repudiation of years of capitalist excess and a move towards a more humane Left. There´s much to be done still, but stay involved and don´t let the criminals and banksters distract you or regain power. The world can learn alot from you guys!
This sounds like some other time passed already in some other parts of Eastern Europe. 1917 year. Anyone?
Great victory for the government, it will be interesting to see what happens next,
4 years of left party’s gov ahead and without any problems from the progressive or independence party,
we are free to do whatever we want,
no rot or corruption, and no pay offs
the tax office is going through the bank collapse and we can be sure they will find plenty of illegal actions there,
it will be interesting to see what the Civil movement will do now after getting 4 seats.