Ministers remain out of reach as aides do not respond

Neither Education and Children’s Minister Inga Sæland nor Social Affairs and Housing Minister Ragnar Þór Ingólfsson has been available for comment, mbl.is reported, despite repeated attempts since messages from former minister Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson’s assistant were reported last Thursday.

The messages appear to contradict Sæland’s account that no one pressured Guðmundur Ingi to resign in January, shortly after he underwent heart surgery. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir has also said he made the decision himself, while Guðmundur Ingi has said otherwise.

At the time, his assistant was Guðbjörg Ingunn Magnúsdóttir, Ragnar Þór’s wife. In messages sent before Guðmundur Ingi resigned, she said he had two options: announce his resignation or “go to war,” a course she said would benefit no one. She also suggested a statement he could publish about stepping down. Guðmundur Ingi resigned, and Ragnar Þór joined the government in his place.

Guðbjörg also wrote that the decision for him to resign was entirely that of “the Valkyries,” referring to Sæland, Frostadóttir and Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir. All three have declined to be interviewed about the matter. Frostadóttir’s assistant said she was busy on Friday and on Tuesday.

Ragnar Þór’s assistant has not responded to mbl.is’s interview request. Two of Sæland’s assistants have also not responded to requests or phone calls on Monday or Tuesday, and her aides were silent on Friday.

Cabinet meetings are usually held on Tuesdays and Fridays, with ministers typically available for interviews afterward. There was no meeting on Tuesday because MPs were in constituency week, and ministers were not available for interviews after Friday’s meeting. On Friday, Ragnar Þór’s assistant said he could not give an interview because the minister was “still that unwell.” Ragnar Þór had fallen ill the previous day and missed an unscripted question session in parliament, where he had been scheduled to answer questions.