Einar says Pétur’s exit from Reykjavík efficiency group was no surprise

Einar Þorsteinsson, chair of Reykjavík’s city executive council, said he was not surprised that Pétur Marteinsson, Samfylkingin’s leader in the city, had left a municipal efficiency group, mbl.is reported.

Marteinsson announced his decision on Wednesday, saying the group had worked too quickly and repeatedly made decisions without adequately analysing alternatives or possible consequences.

In a Facebook post, Þorsteinsson said he had hoped Marteinsson would fulfil promises to voters and deliver the changes he had advocated during Samfylkingin’s candidate selection process. But, he wrote, the party could not acknowledge that the system it had created had grown beyond its control. Voters had chosen parties that campaigned for change, he added.

Þorsteinsson said Marteinsson had generally made a positive contribution to the group’s work, but believed he could not support its measures for political reasons. He criticised Samfylkingin, saying its policies and nature meant that “its own recklessness” would be funded through taxes and operating deficits.

He said the remaining members would continue working on efficiency measures and take care in their efforts to improve the city.