Finance minister stands by angry speech on state deficits

Finance Minister Daði Már Kristófersson told mbl.is that he became angry because opposition arguments suggested that years of state deficits would not ultimately affect people.

He said he stood by the substance of his remarks, although he acknowledged that his wording had been harsh.

“I stand 100% by the substance of my angry speech,” Daði Már told Morgunblaðið, appearing visibly more relaxed.

He said a deficit was nothing other than a claim on the state’s future revenues. Even when a deficit resulted from an investment expected to pay off later, it was still a claim on the return from that investment.