Wednesday, September 29, 2010



Accountability, Icelandic style II

Earlier in the month, an Icelandic Parliamentary committee recommended that former Prime Minister Geir Haarde stand trial for misconduct in office over the collapse of the Icelandic banking industry. Today, the Althing agreed, voting to send his case to a special Court of Impeachment.

This is unprecedented. While Iceland's constitution includes these powers, they have never before been used. OTOH, its also well deserved - and if Haarde's deregulation and bail-out of the banks wasn't official misconduct, you really have to wonder what would be.