Mr Johnsen ex MP, crook and soon to be Conservative MP

I just saw in the web version of Morgunbladid that former conservative MP Arni Johnsen has received a pardon or more accurately his criminal record has been cleared of any mention of the embezzlement that landed him in jail. This executive action has been carried out by three conservative party members, the Justice Minister, President of Parliament and Solicitor General, as executors of Presidential powers during the President's absence. I guess our ex communist President would not have been willing to sign off on the Pardon.

These news coincide neatly with news that Mr Johnsen has plans to run for Parliament again where it not for the pesky problem of his criminal record. You see in Iceland you have to have a clean slate to be an MP. If there ever was a clear-cut case of abuse of powers by Icelandic politicians this is it. I have for some time felt that it was necessary for Icelandic democracy that the Conservatives loose power. That they had just become so corrupted by their long hold on the reigns of government that they had lost all respect for the institutions of State and now just governed by self interest without any underlying principles informing their actions.

This just enforces my view. A failed party member, and comrade in arms, wants to reenter parliament but can't because the law of the land says he does not qualify. What to do? Politicians that felt that maybe, just maybe, their claim to power was not guaranteed might think twice before abusing their powers in the cause of this ex MP. But not our glorious troika.

I wonder if I still have a membership card in the Conservative Party to send them in protest.