OMEN
02-02-2009, 10:12 AM
Iceland's former Social Affairs Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir has been named as the country's new prime minister following a decision by parties forming a new coalition.
Social Democrat Sigurdardottir will be joined by new Finance Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson, leader of coalition partner the Left-Green Party, the parties told journalists.
The previous prime minister, Geir Haarde, resigned on Monday after weeks of anti-government protests, the first leader to fall as a direct result of the global economic crisis.
The new coalition said in a statement that its priorities included replacing the board of governors of the central bank, criticised for failing to prevent the crisis, and to mandate a parliamentary committee to look at the possibility of entering the EU.
It said the committee would deliver a report by 15 April.
The credit crunch that triggered the crisis hit Iceland hard and fast.
Its rapidly expanding banks collapsed under a weight of debt, the currency collapsed and the country was forced to take a $10 billion (€7.8bn) International Monetary Fund-led rescue package, causing widespread anger.
RTE
Social Democrat Sigurdardottir will be joined by new Finance Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson, leader of coalition partner the Left-Green Party, the parties told journalists.
The previous prime minister, Geir Haarde, resigned on Monday after weeks of anti-government protests, the first leader to fall as a direct result of the global economic crisis.
The new coalition said in a statement that its priorities included replacing the board of governors of the central bank, criticised for failing to prevent the crisis, and to mandate a parliamentary committee to look at the possibility of entering the EU.
It said the committee would deliver a report by 15 April.
The credit crunch that triggered the crisis hit Iceland hard and fast.
Its rapidly expanding banks collapsed under a weight of debt, the currency collapsed and the country was forced to take a $10 billion (€7.8bn) International Monetary Fund-led rescue package, causing widespread anger.
RTE