US Ambassador offended by the Icelandic President ?

Soon - the Ambassador of the USA in Iceland , Carol van Voorst ,will be leaving Iceland.
And as tradition says - she requested a meeting with the Icelandic President ,mr Olaf Ragnar Grimsson.
Later ,the ambassador got a letter from the Icelands Foreign Office,wich told her ,that the President was going to give her a Presidential medal - the Fálkaordan. ( photo )

Then when the Ambassodor and her husband where on their way to the Presidents house at Bessastadir,they got a phonecall from the Presidents office ,and where told that ,she would not be getting the medal.
No more explanation was offerred.
According to sources,the ambassador was not pleased,but continued to Bessastadir.
There had been some mistake made at the Presidential office.
The President apologized for this mistake to the ambassador ,but told her also - " that the medal is only for those that deserve it "

Carol van Voorst

Great monday after the elections in Iceland

Great weather was today in Reykjavik.
And tonight the weather was warm and calm.Took a little video clip of boats in Reykjavik harbour and a few photos ---
There might be some crisis - banking and more - but you can still enjoy the calm weather and enjoy the outdoors.

Click on the photos - and they will be bigger

Left parties win in Iceland election.

After considerable delays and an unusually long election night, all ballots have finally been counted.
The coalition parties, the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement have a majority in parliament with 34 MPs out of 63 and could remain in government. Of the 63 elected to Althingi 26 are women, or 43 percent. Eight of those who sought
re-election did not get through. Both of the parties in the governing coalition managed to improve their position and the Independence Party lost a big part of their votes since 2007. Twenty seven new people will be entering the Icelandic Parliament, Althingi following yesterday’s elections.
The Elections results

Election letter B - Framsóknarflokkurinn (Progressive Party), 27.699 votes or 14.8% and 9 seats (an increase of two)
Election letter D - Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (Independence Party). 44.369 votes or 23.7% and 16 seats (lost nine MPs)
Election letter F - Frjálslyndi flokkurinn (Liberal Party), 4148 votes or 2.2% and no seats (lost four)
Election letter O - Borgarahreyfingin (Civic Movement), 13.519 votes or 7.2% and 4 seats (brand new party elected for the first time)
Election letter P - Lýðræðishreyfingin (Democracy Movement), 1107 votes or 0.6% and no seats (brand new party running for the first time)
Election letter S - Samfylkingin (Social Democratic Alliance), 55758 votes or 29.8% and 20 seats (two more MPs than last time)
Election letter V - Vinstri Grænir (Left Green Movement), 40.580 votes or 21.7% and 14 seats (gains five more parliamentarians)

Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir - Iceland Prime Minister

Parliamentary election today in Iceland

Iceland is holding its national parliamentary election today.

Polling stations are open from 09.00 until 22.00 ( GMT )

227,896 people, over the age of 18, have the right to vote today. Icelandic citizens are automatically registered to vote and do not need to register themselves if they live in the country.
Here is a video clip from one of the polling stations .

Icelandic Parliement members accepting bribes ?

Gudlaugur Thor Thordarsson,member of the Independence party and former health minister, has admitted receiving money from Companys in Iceland .
Baugur Group and FL Group donated to him a few million kronas ,when he was running for the Reykjavik City council.
He is now running for parliement ,and these news will not help the Independence party.
Jon Asgeir ,owner of Baugur group ,said yesterday ,that his company donated to most of the parties in Iceland,but not to the Left Green Movement.

The Independence party support is not going well.
General elections will be on next saturday.

Still,the Investigation against the banking crisis,is done by the goverment - so the corruption still goes on.

Here are a few videos from last winter protests in Iceland .
and one video of a 8 year old girl ,making a speach,and it has english subtitles

Members of the Icelandic parliement accepted donations

Many of the members of the Icelandic parliement ,accepted money donations from big companys ,during their fight for becoming members of parliement.
The generla elections ,that are due on next saturday are going be tricky.
Members of all parties have accepted some money from companys.
Will this affect the elections ?
People are getting more angry .

Iceland offered the Euro last okctober ---- secret in Iceland

Last october ,the IMF recommended that Iceland
should take up the EURO ,according to mr: Gudmundur Olafsson ,and Icelandic economist in a radio talk show last week.

He is very angry at the Icelandic Media ,for not reporting about this.
But the Icelandic media is controlled by political parties.
Mr. Olafsson ,claims that this has been kept secret by the former goverment of Iceland.
Why should they keep this a secret ?

Here are two photos from december 31st 2008