48 min
EP46: Davíð Oddsson The Hated and the Dead
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- History
Davíð Oddsson served as prime minister of Iceland between 1991 and 2004. However, Oddsson wasn't just prime minister; he also served as Mayor of Reykjavik, Governor of Iceland’s Central Bank, and as the editor of Iceland’s biggest newspaper.
Whilst he didn’t serve in these positions at the same time, there was a clear attempt by Oddsson, over a period of many decades, to get his friends and allies into positions of influence. He privatised the banks from parliament, his friends took control of them, and he then let the banks do whatever they wanted as Central Banker. The issue is that letting the banks do “whatever they wanted”, ended up nearly destroying Iceland’s economy; in 2008, Iceland was engulfed in one of the worst financial crises in the world.
My guest today is Icelandic investigative journalist Helgi Seljan. Helgi is an editor at independent media outlet Stundin, and uncovered revelations surrounding the Panama Papers in 2016. As well as Oddsson’s career, we discuss the importance of fish to Iceland, Icelandic politics’ ugly underbelly, and why Iceland has never joined the EU, and whether it should.
Davíð Oddsson served as prime minister of Iceland between 1991 and 2004. However, Oddsson wasn't just prime minister; he also served as Mayor of Reykjavik, Governor of Iceland’s Central Bank, and as the editor of Iceland’s biggest newspaper.
Whilst he didn’t serve in these positions at the same time, there was a clear attempt by Oddsson, over a period of many decades, to get his friends and allies into positions of influence. He privatised the banks from parliament, his friends took control of them, and he then let the banks do whatever they wanted as Central Banker. The issue is that letting the banks do “whatever they wanted”, ended up nearly destroying Iceland’s economy; in 2008, Iceland was engulfed in one of the worst financial crises in the world.
My guest today is Icelandic investigative journalist Helgi Seljan. Helgi is an editor at independent media outlet Stundin, and uncovered revelations surrounding the Panama Papers in 2016. As well as Oddsson’s career, we discuss the importance of fish to Iceland, Icelandic politics’ ugly underbelly, and why Iceland has never joined the EU, and whether it should.
48 min