Copenhagen Kastrup airport, Denmark. Source: Wikimedia Commons, calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0
Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, the leader of the Independence Party, wants the Icelandic National Security Council to be convened immediately in light of the developments in Iceland’s neighboring countries, where airports were closed due to drone flights last night. She asks who will make decisions about the country’s government now that both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister are abroad.
As has been reported, air traffic at Kastrup Airport and Gardenmoen Airport was suspended last night and tonight. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that this is the most serious attack on Danish infrastructure to date. The investigation into who is responsible for the drone flight is still ongoing, with Ukrainian President saying it was allegedly Russia.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir and Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir are both in the United States, where they are currently attending the United Nations General Assembly. Minister of Social Affairs Inga Sæland is therefore acting prime minister. She said in an interview with a news agency this morning that the matter was being taken seriously.
Criticises Inga For Indecisiveness
Independence Party leader Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir made the matter a topic of discussion in her speech on the president’s presiding over a meeting in the Althingi this afternoon. She makes it quite clear that as acting prime minister, Inga has the authority to convene the council.
“The Danish Prime Minister said this morning that this was the most serious attack on Danish infrastructure to date. The Danish government already discussed the same evening with its neighbors, with NATO and the EU. Here at home, the Prime Minister is abroad. The Foreign Minister is abroad. The acting Prime Minister is talking about possibly convening a National Security Council but dismissed that decision in an interview this morning. That is completely wrong,” said Guðrún.
The Prime Minister chairs the Council and decides whether to convene it. Therefore, I must ask: Who makes decisions here and now in this country? Who ensures coordination of the governments while the situation is unclear in neighboring countries? I would like the Prime Minister to convene a National Security Council as soon as today, make a decision about it and announce it publicly.
Source: visir.is (in Icelandic)