Jón Gnarr may reconsider support for Iceland’s government

Independent MP Jón Gnarr says he may reconsider his agreement to support Iceland’s government, mbl.is reported, after describing the Viðreisn party as being “in a bit of a crisis” in an interview with Útvarp Saga on Sunday.

Gnarr left Viðreisn’s parliamentary group earlier this month. Under a written agreement, he had pledged to continue supporting the government, its budget and policy priorities, and to remain involved in committee work.

He also criticised María Rut Kristinsdóttir’s temporary appointment as parliamentary group chair while Sigmar Guðmundsson was on sick leave in September. María Rut is married to Ingileif Friðriksdóttir, an assistant to party leader and Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir. Gnarr said he had raised concerns about the arrangement but that they had not been heeded.

Gnarr said the party’s leader was chiefly responsible for what he has described as indecision within Viðreisn, while also attributing responsibility to the party board, deputy leader and former parliamentary group chair. He has also alleged that a clique had formed within the party, saying some decisions were made before parliamentary group meetings and then presented at them.