Prime Minister denies favoritism in appointment of Jón Gunnarsson at Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries

The Prime Minister has firmly denied allegations suggesting that he has favored Jón Gunnarsson by appointing him to a role at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. Bjarni Benediktsson emphasized that Jón will not be involved in processing applications for whale hunting licenses.

Bjarni clarified that Jón Gunnarsson serves as his assistant in the ministry, noting that this is a well-known fact and that, as an assistant, Jón lacks the authority to make final decisions on any matters. He described the assertion that his appointment was a favor as completely unfounded.

The remarks come in response to claims made by Jón’s son, which were reported in the media. According to these claims, Bjarni’s appointment of Jón was intended as a special favor. Bjarni rejected this notion outright, stating there’s no intention behind it that could be perceived as favoritism.

He also addressed concerns regarding his connections to the whale hunting industry, reiterating that neither he nor his close family members have any conflicts of interest that would impact his decision-making in this area. Bjarni mentioned that he had examined his qualifications concerning the matter in question.

Furthermore, he commented on the troubling trend of surveillance in Iceland, referencing reports that an investigative firm was tasked with gathering information about Jón through his family. Bjarni labeled this as a worrisome development, reflective of a broader global trend toward surveillance and cyberattacks, emphasizing that such issues are not confined to other nations but can emerge in Iceland as well.