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Iceland's former bank Governor criticizes Geir Haarde in first witness hearing but not very damaging
Tuesday, 06 March 2012
As the case against the Icelandic former Prime Minister, Geir Haarde,
opens in earnest, one of the first witnesses called to the stands says
that the Prime Minister would have listen to him more. He is the former
governor of the central banks of Iceland
Iceland's former Prime Minister, Geir Haarde could have listened better
to me, according to Iceland's former central bank governor, David
Oddsson who is currently being interrogated and cross examined in the
impeachment case hearing in which the former Prime Minister of Iceland
is defending himself angst charges of country negligence.
As a result, Haarde is also accused of not doing enough to prevent the
banking crisis that almost made the country bankrupt 2008.
Despite what Oddsson said which on a broad sense was directly critical
of Haarde, but his words which carry considerable weight in the trial,
did not hold a very strong tie to weaken the prime ministers non guilty
plea.
The former governor’s words were strong because he too was part of the
politico-economic mix that stirred the country around that time. This
is because he played a major role in the Icelandic politics for a long
time, according to Jóhanna Vigdís Hjaltadóttir, political analyst on
the Icelandic TV RUV.
“He has been a central figure in all that is going on in Iceland's
politics since 1982 when he became mayor of Reykjavik. He was very
popular, both as mayor and as Prime Minister. So this is interesting
says political journalist Jóhanna Vigdís Hjaltadóttir.
During the banking crash and financial crisis David Oddsson was head of
Iceland's central bank. There are those Icelanders who think he should
have been prosecuted because he was involved in building up the
Icelandic banking system. The same banking system that subsequently
proved too weak as the financial crisis struck.
When the Icelandic nation at the moment gathered for the second day of
the trial against former Prime Minister, Geir Haarde, it came out that
there was poor co-operation between Ministers during the critical time.
This is the first time that Iceland is carrying out an in a politically
selected court. The historic trial has been crowded. One of those who
came to listen were Lukka Sigurdardottir who thinks it is good that
politicians are forced to take responsibility.
“In the past, politicians have not had to resign if they ha done wrong. I hope this is the beginning of a new era.”
By Scancomark.se Team
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