Sigmundur Davíð says foreign minister cannot remain in post

Centre Party chairman Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson says Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir cannot continue as Iceland’s foreign minister, mbl.is reports.

In a Facebook post sharing a Morgunblaðið story, Sigmundur said he was convinced Carl Baudenbacher, a former president of the EFTA Court, would have been willing to defend Iceland in the court over Protocol 35. Sigmundur said Baudenbacher knew the EEA Agreement better than anyone.

Sigmundur said the foreign minister had not wanted to appoint Baudenbacher, suggesting she might have feared that Iceland would win the case and that this would be a defeat for her.

He said it became clear from her response to the result of the EU vote that Þorgerður should leave the Foreign Ministry. He added that her conduct since then had shown she was no longer able or willing to defend Iceland’s interests abroad.

If she believes she must remain in government, Sigmundur suggested she swap roles with the finance minister. He said they could then spend the coming months trying to clean up after one another.