Foreign minister hopes Iceland votes yes to renewed EU talks

Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said she hoped Icelanders would vote in favour of the opportunities a new agreement with the European Union could bring, mbl.is reported. She spoke after voting at Lækjarskóli school in Hafnarfjörður in a referendum on whether Iceland should resume EU accession talks.

“This is a bright and beautiful day, and I am pleased to see that people want to vote,” Þorgerður Katrín said. She added that the government’s position was clear: the people would decide, regardless of the outcome.

She said her hopes extended beyond economic stability to many other aspects of society, “not least to increase our security in these uncertain times.”

Þorgerður Katrín said she expected voter turnout to be good, noting that advance voting appeared to have been higher than before. She said public discussion had been positive and that people were seeking more information and learning about the issues.

“I hope so sincerely that people will not be frightened into a particular result, but will make an independent decision,” she said.

The minister attended the polling station with her family.