Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Iceland Prime Minister Resigns Amid Protests in Panama Papers Scandal (VIDEO)

Following-up from Sunday, "Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur Davi Gunnlaugsson Pressured to Resign in #PanamaPapers Scandal (VIDEO)."

Below is video from yesterday's protests, via Euronews.

And at USA Today, "Iceland PM steps aside amid pressure over Panama Papers":

Iceland's prime minister became the first high-profile casualty over the leaked Panama Papers, stepping aside Tuesday following the disclosure of offshore assets that he and his wife held.

Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, 41, suggested that his Progressive Party's vice chairman serve as prime minister for “an unspecified amount of time,” and Gunnlaugsson will continue to be party leader, a government statement said.

Earlier in the day, Agriculture Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson told Icelandic broadcaster RUV that Gunnlaugsson was stepping down, the Associated Press reported. But the statement issued by government press secretary Sigurdur Mar Jonsson said Gunnlaugsson had not resigned. Iceland’s president has not yet confirmed any leadership changes.

Gunnlaugsson was expected to face a no-confidence vote in Parliament  on Thursday, Icelandic news site Vísir reported.

Gunnlaugsson on Monday denied any wrongdoing and told parliament he would not resign. Thousands protested outside the parliament building in Reykjavik over the disclosure that he owned an offshore company in the British Virgin Islands.

That  posed a conflict of interest for him, because Gunnlaugsson had negotiated a deal for Iceland's bankrupt banks at a time when he was a claimant in those banks...
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