Iceland review - 2013, Page 29

ICELAND REVIEW 27
sTAying
Alive
Minister of Industries
and Innovation
Steingrímur J. Sigfússon
talks the government’s
achievements and mishaps,
his new role in politics
and hopes for the future.
By EyglÓ Svala arNarSDÓTTir
PHOTO By PÁll STEfÁNSSoN
along with prime Minister Jóhanna sigurðardóttir, steingrímur
J. sigfússon carried the social democratic alliance-left
green Movement coalition through the turbulent term that
will come to an end with the general election on april 27. in
the course of the more than four-year term he has worn many hats, leading
four different ministries.
in a surprise move, steingrímur announced in mid-february 2013
his resignation as chair of Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð (left green
Movement; lgM), the party he founded in 1999. recent surveys have
indicated a slump in support for the lgM but steingrímur doesn’t cite that
as a reason for his decision. “it was a question of time and now the time was
right, when i found out that my vice-chair was ready to take over.” Minister
of education and Culture Katrín Jakobsdóttir was elected new leader of the
lgM at its national convention later that month. “she demonstrates great
courage in wanting to lead the party at this difficult time.”
steingrímur stresses that he is not retiring from politics altogether. he will
lead his party in the northeast constituency and doesn’t rule out taking a
seat in the cabinet once more. “it wouldn’t surprise me if the left-greens
were to prove more successful in the election than indicated in polls. i expect
a double-digit outcome. We stepped up when the need was most. We
couldn’t think about how that would affect our ratings.”
the coalition has survived adversity from various directions, inner struggle
with ministers coming and going, Mps leaving both coalition parties and
two votes of no confidence. When asked about the government’s biggest
achievement, steingrímur laughs. “to be alive, to have pulled through.
“firstly, our financial success was great. When we took over the
situation of the state treasury was horrible with a deficit of hundreds
of billions of krónur. the deficit went from 10-14 percent of the gdp
in 2008-2009 to 0.2 percent this year.
“secondly, the icelandic way—as they have started calling it
abroad—to carry out cutbacks with social emphasis, by sparing
those with a lower income and the welfare system, was important, as
mentioned in the iMf’s reports and elsewhere.
“thirdly, initiatives to educate young employment seekers and
prioritize the long-term unemployed for new jobs had a major impact.”
But not everything went according to plan. “the struggle with the
debt has been extremely difficult for households, companies and
municipalities, who were already heavily indebted before the collapse,
and inflation is a gigantic problem.
“the number of foreign investments could have increased more
quickly but there the global economic situation worked against us.
however, now things are looking up.”
steingrímur expresses concern over the potential of a different
policy being adopted by a new government after the election. “We
must take a realistic approach, make doable plans and not make
promises we cannot keep.
“We must carry on, there’s no room for mistakes if the economic
recovery is to continue,” he warns.
POLITICs