Iceland PM calls for snap vote after government falls

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Iceland’s Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson called for a snap parliamentary election on Friday after one party in the ruling coalition quit the government formed less than nine months ago.

The outgoing party, Bright Future, cited a “breach of trust” after the prime minister's party allegedly tried to cover up a scandal involving his father.

"In this situation, there is nothing else to do except to have an election and I will do my utmost so that elections will take place as soon as possible," Benediktsson was quoted as saying by online newspaper Iceland Monitor.

The Icelandic prime minister and leader of Independence Party added that he aimed to call for elections this November.

Early Friday, leaders of Bright Future, one of the three partner parties in the government, said they have ended their coalition with the Independence Party and the prime minister.

Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson speaks during a press conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, September 15, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The Reform Party, another junior partner, has called for new elections as soon as possible, the newspaper said.

It was revealed on Thursday that Benediktsson's father signed a letter of recommendation so that a convicted pedophile would receive what in Iceland is called "restored honor," which effectively wipes the criminal record of a person who has served his or her sentence.

Letters of recommendation are required for this procedure.

Minister of Justice Sigridur Andersen, also from the Independence Party, said Thursday night that she had informed Benediktsson of his father's letter in July, Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported.

But Benediktsson neglected to inform Bright Future and Reform Party leaders of the letter until Monday, according to RUV.

After the October 2016 election, the Independence Party took a strong lead by securing 21 out of the 63 seats in parliament after winning 29 percent of the ballots cast. Together, the three-party coalition holds a slim majority with 32 seats.

The center-right coalition government took office in January after lengthy negotiations.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency