Elite Push Back Against the Democratic Renaissance

[The Philosopher]

Constitutional Assembly Elections Ruled Invalid

25.1.2011/ Words by Paul Nikolov
Reykjavik Grapevine

The Supreme Court of Iceland ruled just moments ago that elections for the constitutional assembly last November are no longer valid.

Numerous charges were filed from three different sources over how the elections themselves were conducted. Among the complaints were that:

1. The ballots themselves were numbered. Conceivably, those who were handing out the ballots to voters could make a note of who had which numbered ballot, and be able to see later how that person voted. This is in violation of Icelandic law, which states that all voting must be secret.

2. There were no voting booths per se - an enclosed space with a curtain - but rather, desks separated by sheets of paper. This, the complaint alleges, could make it easy for people sitting next to each other to see how the other person was voting, which again violates Icelandic voter privacy laws.

3. It was not possible to change your voting district, as has been possible in previous elections.

4. Paper boxes were used instead of traditional ballot boxes. This could make ballot tampering, ballot stuffing, and ballot theft far easier to accomplish.

5. Voters were not allowed to fold their ballots in half. By regulations, folding the ballot is in fact required, in order to help voter privacy.

There were also concerns raised that candidates were not allowed to have a representative present at the counting of the ballots.

Today, the Supreme Court, taking these complaints into consideration, ruled that the elections themselves were then invalid.

The assembly as such will then not meet, and in fact even who will be on the assembly itself has been thrown into question.

New elections would have to be held in order to create a new assembly, but when - or even if - this will happen is still undetermined.


Should this surprise anyone? Really, would the elite just roll over and give power to the people?

Stay tuned, this is just the beginning.

-The Peasant Philosopher

[Lachlan09]

Probably been taking lessons from the Florida ballots !

[The Philosopher]

Prime Minister: There Will Be A Constitutional Assembly
28.1.2011

ReykjavikGrapevine/Words by Paul Nikolov

Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir announced after a government meeting that there will be a constitutional assembly.

The recent Supreme Court decision declaring the elections invalid has sparked surprise and frustration from many Icelanders. Some have contended that the ruling was politically motivated, with elected assemblyman Illugi Gunnarsson openly questioning who was behind the three people who filed complaints with the Supreme Court.

The ruling itself was based on the complaints, which showed numerous infractions of Icelandic election law, many of them concerning the safeguards put in place to ensure that all voting is private and confidential.

Earlier this week, the prime minister told parliament "the people will not be denied a constitutional assembly". After a government meeting held earlier today, RÚV reports, the prime minister told reporters that ministers present discussed the Supreme Court ruling and how to respond to it.

She said that there was unanimity among government ministers that there will be a constitutional assembly.

When asked if this means elections will be held again, the prime minister said that numerous options were being explored, such as new elections, or appointment by members of parliament.

She closed by saying that she intends to meet with party chairpeople on Monday to discuss the best course of action to take to make the constitutional assembly a reality.

Revolution is never easy...just ask the Egyptians.

-The Peasant Philosopher