Ossur says Gnarr’s exit signals no confidence in Viðreisn leadership

Jón Gnarr’s departure from Viðreisn’s parliamentary group amounts to a vote of no confidence in the party leadership, former Social Democratic Alliance leader Össur Skarphéðinsson said in a Facebook post, according to mbl.is.

Össur called Gnarr’s departure a significant blow to Viðreisn, while noting that Gnarr had said in an interview with Vísir that Viðreisn was the only party he felt aligned with and that he did not plan to leave the party.

Össur said the issues Gnarr cited, including child protection, children with substance-use problems and individual freedom, were not matters that should lead to political disagreement. He said Gnarr appeared to have felt “in a complete vacuum,” with the leadership failing to support or listen to him.

Össur also backed Gnarr’s criticism of how the summer campaign ahead of the EU referendum was run and organised. He said the party needed to examine what went wrong and learn from the defeat, rather than remain silent or blame opponents of EU membership. Without such a review, he warned, the European movement could be harmed in the future.

Össur wished Gnarr well in what lies ahead.