MPs challenge minister’s account of Landsvirkjun dispute

Two opposition MPs are calling for more information about the dispute between Landsvirkjun’s board and departing CEO Hörður Arnarson. Morgunblaðið reports that Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson of the Independence Party says the finance minister’s statement to parliament that “the whole story had been told” does not stand up.

Guðlaugur Þór said the minister’s remarks on October 19 could be interpreted as a message to Arnarson not to speak about the matter. He is preparing a written question and a request for documents, including records of board meetings held without the CEO and the ministry’s responses to Arnarson’s requests for meetings.

He is also seeking information about who attended formal and informal board meetings, including lunch meetings without the CEO, and whether those gatherings were linked to scheduled board meetings. He said the documents should also clarify what the minister knew before speaking about the dispute in parliament.

Guðlaugur Þór noted that Article 6 of the law governing Landsvirkjun says the CEO must attend board meetings, without distinguishing between formal and informal meetings.

Bergþór Ólason, an MP for the Centre Party who sits on parliament’s industry committee, also said that important details had yet to emerge. He said meetings held without the CEO appeared to have become a new practice and “bear the hallmarks of some kind of bullying”.

Bergþór said Landsvirkjun’s board and the finance minister should explain their actions more fully. He also referred to what appeared to be the minister’s rejection of Arnarson’s request for a meeting.