Former minister attacks government over EU referendum process

Former MP and minister Svandís Svavarsdóttir has strongly criticised the government’s handling of the referendum on whether to hold membership talks with the European Union, mbl.is reports.

Speaking on the latest episode of Dagmál, Svavarsdóttir said the decision on the timing, wording and nature of the vote had been made without ensuring broad support.

“The public was not asked whether this should be on the agenda. The opposition was not asked, the labour movement was not asked and employers were not asked,” she said.

In her view, it was therefore questionable to describe the process as a major celebration of democracy. “It is a very narrow and undemocratic decision, in my opinion, concerning the timing, the content of the question and its nature,” she said.

Svavarsdóttir appeared on the programme with Hildur Sverrisdóttir, a member of parliament for the Independence Party. A clip of Svavarsdóttir criticising the government is available on mbl.is, while subscribers can watch the full episode.