Strøm rebuts parliamentary committee’s findings on Bústøðir in legislative controversy

Ingilín D. Strøm has submitted a statement to the parliamentary committee regarding its preliminary findings.

“I provided the committee with a written comment concerning their preliminary conclusions yesterday. I fundamentally disagree with their findings and have explained that I have not, in any way, provided the parliament with misleading information. I have no doubt that the committee will consider my remarks with the seriousness the matter requires,” Strøm said in a statement to FM1.

This issue began on May 2 when the parliament was to make a final decision on a legislative proposal from Strøm, the Minister of Housing, aimed at amending the law governing Bústøðir, allowing the company to borrow more funds.

However, earlier in March, the National Audit Office raised concerns about the long-term financial stability of Bústøðir, prompting parliament members to question whether it was appropriate to pass the minister’s proposal at that time.

Despite this, on May 2 during the parliamentary debate, Strøm stated, “I have no indications that there are problems with the long-term operations of Bústøðir.”

Nevertheless, Jacob Vestergaard and Erling Eidesgaard, both parliamentary auditors, suspected the opposite. Vestergaard subsequently filed a complaint against Strøm with the committee a week later.

The committee concluded that a unanimous finding deemed Strøm to have misled the parliament, thus violating Article 5 of the law concerning the responsibility of government ministers. This article mandates that a minister must tell the truth to the parliament and cannot conceal information.