Daði rejects criticism over Landsvirkjun explanations

Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Daði Már Kristófersson said criticism of his explanations about Landsvirkjun was neither fair nor substantive, mbl.is reported. He gave an oral report on the company to parliament after opposition MPs called on him to answer questions about the events leading up to former chief executive Hörður Arnarson’s resignation.

Opposition MPs had accused Daði of misleading parliament about the reasons for the resignation. In his report, the minister said that during a parliamentary question session on October 19, he had described the information available to him at the time: that Hörður had resigned on his own initiative and that the matter concerned governance rather than the company’s strategy.

“I fully stand by my answer. I reject the accusations that I was untruthful,” Daði said. He also agreed that the ministry’s communications with Landsvirkjun’s board should not be interpreted by the EFTA Surveillance Authority as political interference.

Independence Party MP Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson said Daði’s report had disappointed him and accused the minister of breaching parliamentary procedure by withholding information that could significantly affect parliament’s assessment of the case. Daði rejected the accusation, saying information about the former chief executive’s concerns showed that the disagreement involved different approaches and priorities in management.

Centre Party MP Bergþór Ólason asked why Daði had said there were no board meetings without Hörður, when it later emerged that such meetings had taken place. Daði acknowledged that his earlier answers on the matter had not been adequate. He said meetings had been held in connection with a memorandum Hörður had sent about governance, and described them as part of normal board meetings without the chief executive.