Minister expresses surprise over government coalition dissolution in Iceland

Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Iceland’s Minister of Finance and leader of the Progressive Party, expressed surprise over Bjarni Benediktsson’s decision to dissolve the government coalition. In a televised evening news segment, he anticipated that if the coalition were to split, it would be a collective decision among the ruling parties.

Sigurður Ingi mentioned that the meeting between the party leaders yesterday was constructive, and he believed that significant contentious issues could have been resolved if there had been a willingness to compromise. He voiced concerns about inflation following the government’s dissolution and highlighted the potential disruption of vital governmental projects due to Benediktsson’s choice.

He remarked that a coalition government always demands compromises. In his view, the decision by the Independence Party indicates a refusal to engage in further negotiations.

Following this announcement, Sigurður Ingi stated that the Progressive Party would need to convene to discuss their next steps, as the timeline leading up to upcoming elections is tight. He emphasized the urgency of reviewing matters and clarifying their positions in the coming weeks.