Heavy workload prompts Viðreisn committee reshuffle

Viðreisn MP Ingvar Þóroddsson says his heavy workload led him to give up his seat on the Budget Committee of Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, mbl.is reports. Sandra Sigurðardóttir will take his place, while Ingvar moves to her seat on the Welfare Committee.

Ingvar said the changes followed Pawel Bartoszek’s appointment as chair of Viðreisn’s parliamentary group. The group reviewed its committee assignments, and Pawel asked MPs whether they wanted to change committees.

Ingvar is also first deputy chair of the Industry Committee and vice president of Alþingi. He said those roles carry substantial responsibilities that are difficult to combine with serving on the Budget Committee.

The committee holds many of its meetings on Fridays, which are kept free in part to allow MPs representing constituencies outside the capital to meet people in their districts. Ingvar said Fridays are among the only working days he has available for meetings in his Northeast constituency.

He also cited two planned parliamentary trips abroad that will conflict with Budget Committee meetings. He said the reshuffle is intended to spread the workload more evenly within the parliamentary group.