Jón Gnarr’s exit deals a blow to the government

Jón Gnarr’s departure from Viðreisn’s parliamentary group is a setback for both the party and the government, political science professor Eiríkur Bergmann told mbl.is.

Gnarr left the group yesterday. Since then, he has given several interviews and sharply criticised the party leadership, particularly its chair, Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir. He says he still supports the government.

Bergmann said the departure could still affect the government. Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson, who left the People’s Party earlier this year, has also said he continues to support the government. The governing parties now have 34 MPs, down from an initial 36.

“This is a setback for Viðreisn and a certain setback for the government. Even if he says he intends to support the government, parliamentary groups are the engine of this kind of cooperation. Once people leave them, there is no real control any longer,” Bergmann said.

Bergmann said it had not previously been widely known that cooperation within Viðreisn’s parliamentary group was difficult, as Gnarr has described. He said it was hard to predict whether the departure would have further consequences, but that Gnarr’s account of previously undisclosed conditions in the group created an image problem for Viðreisn.

Gnarr has also criticised what he sees as a lack of leadership in Viðreisn, saying it was difficult to reach Þorgerður Katrín because of her work as foreign minister. Bergmann said it could be challenging for a party leader to hold that ministerial post at the same time, although parties have faced the situation before.

Asked whether the dispute could weaken Þorgerður Katrín’s position as chair, Bergmann said it raised questions that had not been apparent before. He added that political work was changing, with more MPs entering parliament without first gaining experience within a political party.