MP says minister may be arguing against his convictions

Social Democratic Alliance MP Hildur Sverrisdóttir said Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Daði Már Kristófersson may have been speaking against his own convictions while defending the government’s new budget bill, mbl.is reports.

Hildur said Daði Már appeared tense at a meeting of the Association of Companies in Financial Services in Smárabíó on Monday morning.

“It is perhaps understandable when one has to speak against one’s convictions, which I have no doubt the minister has to do with the introduction of this omnibus bill, at least judging by Viðreisn’s previous statements,” Hildur said in Parliament, where the new budget bill was discussed.

She said she had sympathy for the minister, who had for years argued that the measures now being introduced were not sensible.

The budget bill was the subject of a heated panel discussion at the financial services association’s meeting. Hildur said Daði Már repeatedly interrupted other participants, swore and raised his voice.

“I have a certain sympathy for a minister who has for many years spoken in such a way that the measures now being taken, repeatedly, are not sensible. So I simply have to understand that he was not in the best of moods at the meeting this morning,” she told mbl.is.

Hildur said it was noteworthy that the government had clearly promised not to raise taxes on ordinary people, while the proposed changes would affect everyone earning wages and paying income tax.

In her parliamentary speech, she said the bill would raise income tax indirectly by changing the income tax brackets.

“Every single wage earner in the country will therefore pay higher tax, in every tax bracket and in every income decile. Everyone in Iceland is going to pay higher income tax,” she said.

Hildur said the tax measure was expected to bring three billion króna into the state treasury. The increase could therefore be dropped while still producing a balanced budget, she said.

“So I am surprised that, contrary to very clear promises to all working people and without any visible reason or necessity, this course is being taken,” she said.

“With one stroke of the pen, this decision has now been made, and the bill is being sent to everyone in Iceland who pays income tax.”