Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.06.2019, Qupperneq 16

Last month saw one of the longest fili-
busters in Icelandic history. The Centre
Party’s populist grandstanding over
routine—and, for Iceland, irrelevant—
European Union legislation has domi-
nated the headlines for a rather dull run.
As a member of the European
Economic Area, Iceland must adopt
most EU regulation and legislation. The
controversial “Third Energy Package”
regulates cross border energy markets
within the EU/EEA, but, as Iceland is not
connected to mainland power grids, the
law’s provisions are inconsequential.
Not to be deterred by facts, the Centre
Party blocked all parliamentary business
under the false claim that the law would
give control of Iceland’s energy to the
EU. They dragged debate out for over
a 134 hours; often only talking to each
other in an otherwise empty chamber.
On Friday May 31st party leaders agreed
to delay debate on the bill indefinitely.
It is not clear when or if the bill will be
brought to the floor again.
Slow Rolling Tradition
It is the second longest debate since the
two houses of parliament combined in
1991. Only the debate
surrounding the
controversial IceSave
deal lasted longer.
Indeed, the debate
has been dragged
out longer than that
about Iceand join-
ing the EEA. While
prolonging debate
is a tactic that has
been employed by all
parties at one point
or another, these
filibusters a rare and
tend to last about a
day.
C o n s e r v a t i v e
opposition parties
twice protested the
post-crisis left-wing government’s
budgets by prolonging debate for
nearly twenty hours. The leader of that
government, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir,
famously gave a twelve-hour speech in
1998 to protest the government ending
construction of new social housing.
Once a point has been made abundantly
clear ordinary business resumes.
Section 71 of the parliamentary law
allows the speaker–in this case, Stein-
grímur J. Sigfússon— to limit or end
debate. The same provision also permits
nine MPs to propose a vote to end the
debate, though this hasn’t happened in
70 years.
Steingrímur J., was reluctant to call
the Centre Party’s efforts a filibuster, but
after several days, members’ patience
was wearing thin. Leader of the opposi-
tion Social Democrats, Logi Einarsson,
told Vísir that MPs had discussed turn-
ing to Section 71 to end debate. However,
he was cautious because it would set a
new precedent and may be used by the
Centre Party to elicit sympathy from the
public. Logi and others are right to be
cautious about changing the rules.
A World of Alternatives
Filibustering has become the norm in
the United States Senate, where it was
once a rarity. However, changing rules
have created an environment where
minority leaders are almost encour-
aged to stall. US Senators rarely make
speeches in the style of “Mr. Smith
Goes to Washington,” rather leadership
counts how many votes they have before
moving forward. At least in Iceland MPs
are still required stand at the podium
and speak for many hours.
Fortunately, the US model of grid-
lock is not the only alternative. British
parliament has a strongly majoritar-
ian tradition. The government chooses
what legislation comes to the floor and
when votes will happen. It only needs
a one vote majority to pass. However
Ministers must face biting questions
and jeering members on the opposition
benches. In contrast, in Denmark a
one-third minority of MPs can demand a
referendum on most
non-financial legis-
lation. The Centre
Party has just half of
that representation
in Icelandic parlia-
ment. This provision
has rarely been used
because the country
has a tradition of
consensus politics.
Unlike his prede-
cessor the current
Icelandic president
is fiercely apolitical
and unlikely to veto
a bill that will pass
with broad support
in Alþingi and little
p u b l i c o p p o s i -
tion. The proposed new constitution
would have formalized the process and
bypassed the president.
Alþingi is moving quickly to finish
other business and get out in the long
absent summer sun. The nonsense
controversy waits for another day.
“Senators rarely
make speeches
in the style of
‘Mr. Smith Goes
to Washington’,
rather,
leadership
counts how
many votes they
have.”
Show of Power:
The Future of the
Filibuster in Iceland
When the gears of democracy grind to a halt
This guy talked for so long he may have blacked out
Words:
Kolbeinn Arnaldur
Dalrymple
Photos:
Art Bicnick
News 16 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 09— 2019