Kristrún Frostadóttir trusts voters ahead of EU referendum

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said she was optimistic because she trusted the public to make the right decision in Saturday’s referendum on whether to continue discussions on Iceland’s relationship with the European Union, mbl.is reported.

“This is a good day. We have now reached the point where the decision is in the hands of the nation,” Frostadóttir told mbl.is at Álftamýrarskóli, a school in Reykjavík, where she voted.

She said voters could either support entering the negotiations, seeking a good agreement and assessing the outcome, or set discussions on the European Union aside, at least for now.

“I am optimistic because I have faith in the nation. I know it will make the right decision. I will respect it, whatever it is,” she said, adding that the outcome was highly unpredictable but that increased public participation in the debate was encouraging.

Frostadóttir said the country needed to remain united after the vote, regardless of the result.

“The main thing is that we go into the tasks ahead united, whether this is a yes or a no,” she said. If the result was yes, Iceland would seek a good agreement, address people’s concerns and pursue their hopes, wishes and opportunities, she said. If the result was no, the government would continue with its existing work.