Reykjavík Grapevine - 16.06.2016, Qupperneq 24

Guðrún Margrét Pálsdóttir,
nurse, co-founder of children’s
charity ABC Barnahjálp
Does Iceland even need the
office of the presidency?
Why or why not?
Yes, I believe Iceland needs
the office of the presidency.
I see the President as a part
of the image of Iceland, a
voice among the nations, a
leader of the nation, some-
one who cares about the
nation, standing guard and
uniting the nation.
Is Iceland better served
by working more closely
with the EU, possibly even
joining the EU, or are we
better off moving away
from Schengen?
I don’t think Iceland should
join the EU but of course we
should have good co-opera-
tion with our neighboring
countries. I would consider
it a possibility to move away
from Schengen.
Do you support a new
constitutional amendment
that would establish term
limits for the presidency?
Yes, I think it is better to
have set term limits.
Do you support a new
constitution for Iceland in
the general sense?
I support certain changes
to our constitution which
are being led by Stjórnar-
skrárnefnd appointed by
Althingi, that has taken
into consideration the for-
mer reviewing and rewrit-
ing of the constitution by
Stjórnlagaráð, the advisory
elections concerning a new
constitution and trends in
the neighboring countries. I
think it is better to carefully
review the constitution step
by step rather than throw-
ing the existing one out.
Would you see yourself as
a sort of "figurehead" kind
of president, or would you
see yourself as a politically
active one? If politically
active, in what ways would
you engage politically? If a
figurehead, what are your
reasons for that choice?
I would see myself as some-
where in the middle of those
two. A president needs to
be political to some extent,
but preferably as little as
possible. He needs at least
to insure that Iceland has
a functioning government
and is able to step in if there
is a crisis in the government
that cannot be solved with-
in the government itself. He
also needs to be security for
the nation, someone that
can be trusted not to sign
a law from the parliament
that will harm the nation
or country in an irrevers-
ible way. Rather than a fig-
urehead, I would see the
president as a leader that
unites and leads the nation
by a good example and who
encourages good actions to
help those in need, both in
Iceland and to bless other
nations.
Do you believe in human-
caused climate change?
Yes, I believe in human-
caused climate change and
I believe that we as a nation
need to take responsibility
for it and take steps to di-
minish it as hopefully other
nations do as well. I believe
these changes are one of the
biggest threats to the hu-
man race if we do not take
action. I have been advocat-
ing that we can do our share
by planting trees on a great-
er scale in our country.
Do you support separation
of church and state, as 71%
of Icelanders said they do in
the last opinion poll taken
on this topic?
No, I would like to keep the
status quo as it is. It is writ-
ten in our constitution that
if changes are to be made
regarding the state and the
church, that decision must
come from Althingi, and
the nation will vote on the
matter. It is not a decision
of the President whether a
separation will take place or
not. According to the con-
stitution, the government
should protect and support
the church and I see that as
the role of the President.
Name three things
you would bring to the
presidency that none of the
other candidates would.
First: I would bring the em-
phasis on increasing tree
planting in Iceland in or-
der to do our part to slow
down the climate change
and to give back to the coun-
try what we owe it. Iceland
had forests from shores to
mountains when the settle-
ment took place.
Second: I want to estab-
lish one week a year where
the nation would be united
in fundraising and charity.
I want to establish a large
charity fund where I would
provide a good example by
donating half of my salary
as President, encouraging
others that are financially
well off to do the same. We
could then empower chari-
ties in Iceland to help those
in need, both in Iceland and
in other countries.
Third: I want to nurture
and protect the roots of the
nation, such as the Icelan-
dic language, the Christian
inheritance, the culture,
history and values. I want
to encourage people to pray
for the nation, especially for
the youth which is strug-
gling with anxiety, depres-
sion and addiction in grow-
ing numbers.
Sturla Jónsson, truck
driver
Does Iceland even
need the office of the
presidency? Why or
why not?
Yes, we need a presi-
dent, because I would
defend the values that
I have had from the be-
ginning, and stand up
for the oppressed and
the privacy of people
in our society. I would
help get people jobs and
defend job creation in
an increasingly open
society. Not least of all,
I would defend the laws
of the constitution, and
that public officials
operate in accordance
with the law.
Do you ever get anxious
about the prospect of
having to balance your
family life with the
demands of the office?
No, I don’t worry about
that. I am happily mar-
ried and in a good fami-
ly where everyone helps
each other out. My sons
are fully grown, so I
think I have enough en-
ergy and time to do my
duties as President.
Do you support a
new constitutional
amendment that would
establish term limits for
the presidency?
No, but if I received a
petition of 25,000 vot-
ing-eligible Icelanders,
I would refer the consti-
tutional draft to public
referendum, as I would
with any large issue
concerning the public
interest.
Do you support a new
constitution for Iceland
in the general sense?
I see both pros and cons
with the constitutional
draft. But I cannot sup-
port it due to a provi-
sion about national
sovereignty, which I
consider to be a huge
and serious issue.
Would you see
yourself as a sort of
"figurehead" kind of
president, or would
you see yourself as a
politically active one?
If politically active, in
what ways would you
engage politically? If
a figurehead, what are
your reasons for that
choice?
If I am elected Presi-
dent, I would without
reservation either ap-
prove or reject a law
based on a petition
brought to me on the
matter that had at least
25,000 signatures.
That’s the kind of presi-
dent I intend to be. I
would serve the office
of the highest public
official of the nation in
accordance with those
laws and regulations
that concern the Presi-
dent of Iceland in the
constitution.
Do you believe in
human-caused climate
change?
In light of scientific re-
search, it’s difficult to
say yes or no.
Do you support
separation of church
and state, as 71% of
Icelanders said they do
in the last opinion poll
taken on this topic?
Yes, with the caveat
that I would grant some
exceptions, such as for
older churches that are
historically preserved.
But cuts certainly need
to be made, as the bud-
get allocation [to the
church] is considerable;
something like six bil-
lion ISK a year while the
healthcare system is
greatly lacking.
Name three things
you would bring to the
presidency that none
of the other candidates
would.
Abide the word of the
constitution, I would
appoint ministers to be
outside of Parliament
[government ministers
are also voting mem-
bers of Parliament -
ed.], and if I received
25,000 signatures from
voting-eligible Iceland-
ers, I would refer the
constitutional draft to
public referendum, as I
would with all large is-
sues that concern the
public interest.
Hildur Þórðardóttir, ethnologist
Does Iceland even need the
office of the presidency? Why
or why not?
Yes, definitely. The President
unites the nation in good times
and in difficult times. She is the
link between Parliament and the
people, especially when there is
a breach of trust between them.
The president frequently vis-
its all kinds of communities,
workplaces and rehabilitation
centres and thereby draw atten-
tion to all the positive things
happening in our society, and
can thus inspire people to con-
tinue doing good things. The
President, in my opinion, is an
important advocate for peace
in the world, since we are one of
the few nations that don’t have
armed forces and we are not a
part of the arms industry. And
finally, the President is the only
office elected directly by the
people.
Is Iceland better served by
working more closely with the
EU, possibly even joining the
EU, or are we better off moving
away from Schengen?
I think Schengen has served us
very well, with the coordinated
efforts in catching drug smug-
glers and illegal trafficking.
I am in favour of continuing
those efforts. As for the EU, I
don‘t want to take sides, but if
we decide to join, I think it is
absolutely vital that we have our
natural resources owned by the
people/state so that it cannot be
sold to foreign companies, like
happened in Greece.
Do you support a new
constitutional amendment that
would establish term limits for
the presidency?
I support term limits for the
presidency. However I don’t be-
lieve in mending the old consti-
tution anymore. In the new one,
we have the article of a maximum
three terms and I support that.
Do you support a new
constitution for Iceland in the
general sense?
Yes, I don’t believe in amending
the old one anymore. We need
a new one, for the new Iceland
that we want to build, with an
active democracy, more power to
the people, a factual division be-
tween the legislative and execu-
tive power and a vertical power
structure. The new constitution
reduces the power of the politi-
cal parties so members of Parlia-
ment can hopefully act on their
own conscience, instead of al-
ways acting on the best interest
of the party.
Would you see yourself as a
sort of "figurehead" kind of
president, or would you see
yourself as a politically active
one? If politically active, in
what ways would you engage
politically? If a figurehead,
what are your reasons for that
choice?
I see myself as politically active,
but not for any particular politi-
cal party, rather for wanting to
improve society and democracy
in general. In my opinion, the
president has to advocate for the
new constitution, for instance,
because if against it, he can sow
seeds of doubt in society.
I would like us to create plat-
forms for discussions on dif-
ferent topics, nature, the edu-
cational system, the healthcare
system etc. I am also in favour
of hearing all views and opin-
ions and then deciding what is
best. Silencing certain opin-
ions or views by condemning all
that dare to raise the subject is
harmful for society and keeps
us in the dark.
Do you believe in human-caused
climate change?
I think it is vital that we start re-
specting the Earth more greatly.
We need to reduce carbon dioxide
emission and find and encour-
age other energy sources. We also
need to minimize degradation
of peatlands through drainage
and fire, not only because of gas
emission but even more because
of the impact on biodiversity and
local people of this degradation.
Humans definitely show too little
respect for the Earth and need to
grow out of it. If the imminent
global warming serves as the
driving force for change, I sup-
port it fully.
Do you support separation of
church and state, as 71% of
Icelanders said they do in the
last opinion poll taken on this
topic?
I do not want to take sides on
this issue. Being a folklorist I
realize that we need traditions
to maintain our roots in society.
But I would like to see the church
developing towards a more in-
clusive and broad-minded estab-
lishment and changing with the
times.
Name three things you would
bring to the presidency that
none of the other candidates
would.
I stand for a new Iceland, with
a new way of thinking and new
ways of doing things. The old
way is two-sided, either you
are right or wrong, with us or
against us, either you win or
lose. The new way of thinking is
hearing all views and opinions
and then you decide for yourself
what is right for you. It is not
the end of the world if people do
not agree with you and you don’t
need to be right all the time.
It means people working to-
gether to find solutions for the
whole. So, instead of the con-
stant struggle like we have in
Parliament now, with the ma-
jority and minority competing
against each other, all members
of Parliament will work togeth-
er, as individuals, for the good
of the whole nation. The Consti-
tutional Council in 2011 proved
it can be done.
Apart from that I love being
with all kinds of people, I think
everyone is equally important
and precious. I have courage to
go against the stream, a vision
that transcends the system and
a passion for improving our so-
ciety.
ALL THE
PRESIDENTS