Sigmundur Davíð calls referendum result major defeat for government

Mid Party leader Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson has described Icelandic voters’ rejection of starting European Union accession negotiations as a major defeat for the government, speaking to mbl.is after the referendum.

“I am very relieved and, in fact, overjoyed that what I always believed would be the result came to pass: that when it came down to it, Icelanders wanted to govern themselves,” he said.

Gunnlaugsson also expressed deep gratitude to those who worked to secure the result. He said people from very different backgrounds had united into a strong force, bringing together critics of the government and opposition groups.

He said the result was a particularly significant setback for the government because of the way the referendum was organised. According to Gunnlaugsson, the process was launched suddenly, with reports first emerging in foreign media that the government intended to push the matter through parliament quickly and hold the vote during the summer, when there would be limited opportunity for political debate.

He also criticised what he called an unusual approach by the government, saying it had tried to persuade voters that applying to join the European Union was about something other than the desire to become a member.

Gunnlaugsson said voters had seen through what he described as advertising tactics. He believes the margin against accession talks would have been even larger if the debate had been deeper and held under normal conditions.

He said the government had been seriously weakened because so much had been at stake. He also pointed to comments by the prime minister, who as recently as the previous day or the day before had strongly criticised those planning to vote against the proposal.

“It cannot be ignored that this caused an enormous division in society,” Gunnlaugsson said.

He said the government must now repair the situation and bring the country together. That would require respecting those who voted against starting negotiations with the European Union while also addressing the concerns of the large group that voted in favour and believed a European Union solution could resolve their worries.