Iceland parliament sending ex-Prime Minister to trial to answer for economic collapse

[yllus]

I think anyone who's not being unfairly partisan can admit that sometimes things (especially things that occur in private corporations) are a little too complicated to land at one person's feet, even if that one person is the leader of the nation. But there seems to be a push towards real accountability out there, and that's definitely a good thing.

Ex-Iceland PM referred to court over financial crisis

Iceland's parliament has narrowly voted to refer former Prime Minister Geir Haarde to a special court over his role in the country's financial crisis.

The Landsdomur will now decide whether he should face trial for negligence.

A recent report commissioned by the parliament found that more should have been done to limit the damage from the collapse of Iceland's banks in 2008.

Mr Haarde, who stepped down last year following widespread protests, said he would be "vindicated" by the court.

"I have a clean slate. This charge borders on political persecution," he told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV).

...

In April, a Special Investigation Commission report accused Mr Haarde and the central bank chief of acting with "gross negligence" by not exerting enough pressure on the banks to shrink their balance sheets.

"My official acts as prime minister didn't cause the banking collapse; it wasn't in my power, or in the power of other ministers, to prevent it," Mr Haarde said in a statement earlier this month that also blamed the banks for misleading his government.

 

[PeshakJang]

I thought it was Bush's fault...?

 

[Thump553]

Is Iceland still totally evading responsibility to compensate those that it defaulted upon? Get back to me when they shoulder that responsibility. Until then, this reeks of a witch hunt to me.

 

[Jhhnn]

Is Iceland still totally evading responsibility to compensate those that it defaulted upon? Get back to me when they shoulder that responsibility. Until then, this reeks of a witch hunt to me.

They don't have the resources, even if they set out to do so. The population of Iceland is only 320K.

Hell, the biggest american banks would have ended up it the same place if uncle sugar and GWB hadn't been there to bail 'em out, right on schedule.

Anybody who thinks this really was an accident isn't really thinking... It was a top down looting spree perpetuated by the world's financial elite, encouraged and fed by govts like our own. It wasn't negligence, but rather complicity in fraud.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

They don't have the resources, even if they set out to do so. The population of Iceland is only 320K.

Hell, the biggest american banks would have ended up it the same place if uncle sugar and GWB hadn't been there to bail 'em out, right on schedule.

Anybody who thinks this really was an accident isn't really thinking... It was a top down looting spree perpetuated by the world's financial elite, encouraged and fed by govts like our own. It wasn't negligence, but rather complicity in fraud.

Same with Greece and the EU and same with the EU-Iceland-UK now.

 

[ShawnD1]

Same with Greece and the EU and same with the EU-Iceland-UK now.

Man, why did Germany bail out Greece? What they should have done was buy Greece.

Also, Bill Gates should buy Iceland. He could own the entire country.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Man, why did Germany bail out Greece? What they should have done was buy Greece.

Also, Bill Gates should buy Iceland. He could own the entire country.

No, the EU and the World Bank did, don't worry, you'll get to pay for it too.

 

[GaiaHunter]

It was

Who are you kidding?

IT IS!

Just to listen to Fed Bullshit about inflation not being high enough.

Wow 9.5% plus population unemployed and they want to raise the price of FOOD?!?!?!

My gold on other hand likes it a lot.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Who are you kidding?

IT IS!

Just to listen to Fed Bullshit about inflation not being high enough.

Wow 9.5% plus population unemployed and they want to raise the price of FOOD?!?!?!

My gold on other hand likes it a lot.

So what, just eat less, you're too fat as it is anyway.

 

[GaiaHunter]

So what, just eat less, you're too fat as it is anyway.

Maybe that is the plan - make people not have enough money to eat so no one is obese.

It seems to work in africa...

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Maybe that is the plan - make people not have enough money to eat so no one is obese.

It seems to work in africa...

Helps with healthcare costs too, it's a master plan!

 

[dmcowen674]

Iceland parliament sending ex-Prime Minister to trial to answer for economic collapsehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11432362

Hopefully Americans will wake up and do the same thing to Bush.

 

[dmcowen674]

I thought it was Bush's fault...?

For the U.S. yes but Iceland?