Jón Gnarr compares Þorgerður Katrín to Georg Bjarnfreðarson

Jón Gnarr appeared to compare Viðreisn leader Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir to the character Georg Bjarnfreðarson in a closing remark during an interview on mbl.is’s Spursmál programme.

Gnarr used characters from the television series associated with Næturvaktin to describe his position in Viðreisn’s parliamentary group. Earlier in the interview, he had repeatedly criticised the party leadership and described conditions in the group as unbearable.

He has left Viðreisn’s parliamentary group but remains a member of the party and supports the government.

Near the end of the interview, host Stefán Einar Stefánsson suggested that Gnarr had been like Ólafur Ragnar Hannesson in the group but had wanted to be Georg. Gnarr rejected that interpretation, saying he had not wanted the role of Georg, the authoritarian shift manager he played in Vaktirnar.

“I am Ólafur Ragnar Hannesson, but I would have wanted Georg not to be there,” Gnarr said. He did not name anyone in that final answer, but shortly beforehand said the party leader ultimately bore responsibility for the problems in the parliamentary group.

Earlier, Gnarr was asked whether the strained relationship between Justice Minister Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir and Þorgerður Katrín was part of the situation he was leaving. He said it was and described the circumstances as unhealthy. He added that he was not in a position to take charge: “I’m just a worker on the forecourt, and I’m quite happy with that.”

Gnarr has now left the parliamentary group. His closing remark suggested he would have preferred the shift manager to leave instead.