Video: Shouting and interrrupting from parliamentary platforms
Shouts were heard from the parliamentary platforms as Bjarni Benediktsson, the chairman of the Independence Party and the new Prime Minister, made a statement at a parliamentary session that began at 3 pm this afternoon.
Benediktsson had started talking about immigration when the audience began shouting.
Birgir Ármannsson, the Speaker of the Icelandic parliament, was quick to respond and ring the bell.
The first day in office has not been an easy one for the new Prime Minister, with shouting in Parliament and a petition of distrust. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Guests on the benches must depart
“Visitors on the benches can’t call out,” Ármannsson said as he tried to get a handle on the situation.
“Visitors in the benches must depart from the benches,” he said, ringing the bell again. “Visitors in the benches must depart and remain silent,” the Speaker repeated.
Benediktsson continued his speech and as well as the person in the audience interrupted.
But it was not long until calm was restored.
Thousands signed a petition against Benediktsson
Early today at least ten thousand Icelanders had signed a petition against Benediktsson as Prime minister.
Around noon roughly ten thousand people had signed their name under a list on Ísland.is that bears the caption: Bjarni Benediktsson doesn’t have my support as prime minister, and around 8 this evening that number had doubled, although not everybody had made their names visible in the petition.
Article on Iceland Monitor
63.3% strongly agree with Benediktsson’s decision to resign in a new poll
There are no demands attached to the petition and it appears that it is a statement rather than some kind of demand.
Referring to Bjarni’s unpopularity
According to a poll conducted by Maskína at the end of last year, the description accompanying the petition refers to Bjarni’s unpopularity.
The undersigned of the petition is Eva Lín Vilhjálmsdóttir, director of communications.
