Viðreisn leader says dispute with Jón Gnarr is not personal

Viðreisn leader Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir says her disagreement with Jón Gnarr is not personal, she told Morgunblaðið after a cabinet meeting. She did not directly address his criticism that a clique had formed around the party leadership.

Gnarr left Viðreisn’s parliamentary group on Thursday, criticising what he described as a lack of leadership, reluctance to make decisions and cliquishness. He remains a member of the party and supports the government.

Asked whether she took his criticism to heart, Þorgerður said she listened to him but did not intend to engage in a public exchange. Party leaders had to be willing to make decisions even when not everyone agreed, she said.

She said she had known about Gnarr’s dissatisfaction. A policy group had been appointed to review the party’s internal work, communications and priorities, and Gnarr was chosen to lead it partly to address his views. The group is expected to report in November, and Þorgerður said she hoped its work would help pave the way for his return to the parliamentary group. He would always be welcome, she said.

Asked about Gnarr’s criticism of the party’s approach to the European Union and its lack of direction after the referendum, she said there was much to learn from the vote. The policy group had full freedom to examine the issue.