Liberal Party's new immigrant policy

Magnús Þór Hafsteinsson, vice chairman of the Liberal Party said that the Icelandic Government made a mistake when it agreed the free flow of workers from the East-European countries of the European Union earlier this year. „The Liberal Party warned that Icelandic society was not ready to accept the number of foreign workers that would arrive when the Government accepted the free flow of foreign labour on May 1st this year. What has now come to light is that various problems have arisen that we are not ready to deal with."

Despite the fact that unemployment has been very low in recent years and that foreign workers who come here get steady jobs, Magnús Þór still claims that there are problems. „We should have used the work force that is already here better. There are still people here that are having problems getting jobs, for example people over fifty and people with disabilities. Limitation on the flow would also have reduced the expansion. Icelanders need to discuss what kind of society they would like to create and if the development in immigration issues is desirable."

Einar Skúlason, managing director of The Intercultura Center says that Magnús Þór's presentation is propaganda based on fear. „Magnús Þór's propaganda is not beneficial for the discourse of immigration issues. The fact is that when the employment situation in the country is good then foreign labour will arrive to work. If the employment situation gets worse then less foreign workers will arrive. Icelandic society has become dependent on foreign labour that is a fact that needs to be in the discourse. Magnús Þór's claim that the fast rising number of foreign workers is creating problems is irresponsible propaganda."

Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, professor in Political Science, says it is a change of policy if the Liberal Party is going in the direction Magnús Þór has been propagating in immigration issues. „Up until now no political party in Iceland has been willing to support actions against immigrants in Iceland. In our neighbouring countries there are political parties that want to limit immigrants, some of those parties have been doing well. Perhaps a small political party in Iceland could increase it's following by changing the policy in immigration issues."