Haarde Calls Early Iceland Vote Following Protests

[Joanne98]

Source: Bloomberg

Jan. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Iceland will hold early parliamentary elections on May 9 after the island’s economic collapse sparked protests directed against Prime Minister Geir Haarde’s government.

Haarde, 58, won’t seek re-election as chairman of the Independence Party, the biggest partner in the ruling coalition, he said on broadcaster RUV today, adding that he has been diagnosed as having a malignant tumor requiring treatment outside the country.

“Even if my prospects” of recovery from the tumor “are good, in light of the uncertainty, I have decided not to seek re- election,” the premier said.

Police this week used tear gas and clubs to break up the latest in a series of demonstrations called by citizens demanding the resignation of the government, officials at the central bank and the Financial Supervisory Authority. The country, the fifth- richest in the world per capita in 2007, was forced to ask the International Monetary Fund for a bailout in October following the failure of its banks and the collapse of its currency.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aKFsWUgvM3JU&refer=europe

[LeftishBrit]

1. They're in deep trouble.

Some British charities and local governments have suffered badly from investing money there.