THIS WEEK IN PROTEST — ICELANDERS DEPOSE THEIR PRIME MINISTER, APRIL 5, 2016.
Thousands of Icelanders have gathered on the main square of their capital demanding urgent reforms in government.
Poster Above: Lygmundur [name of Prime Minister] You Are FIRED”
Each week, people around the world take streets of their cities to remind their governments that their voices matter. In this series I want to collect the best images from protests around the world.
TRENDING HASHTAGS — #cashljós #helvitisfökkingfokk #vanhæfríkisstjór #vanhæfríkisstjórn
BRIEF
On Monday, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists have revealed the largest data leak in history of mankind. 2.5 Terabytes of files revealing the corruption of the world’s leaders and their families, including of the Prime Minister of Iceland — Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson.
Thousands took the streets of Iceland’s capital demanding th PM’s resignation. They succeeded.
What’s Happening?
They say life has no coincidences. At the moment when the pages of British newspaper The Guardian revealed the Panama Files to the entire world — Iceland’s Prime Minister was giving his usual morning interview at the local channel and when the journalist asked him about the Panama Files, he walked off the interview. It took 24 hours for his citizens to push him out of the government, forcing him to resign.
PLACARD: “NEW ICELAND”
Protesters’ Words:
“Prime Minister should walk off the office as he walked off the interview today. We are here to guarantee it.”
“Prime Minister will resign and even after resigning he will have to be very brave to walk down the street with his head up.”
FACT SHEET:
2.6 Terabytes of Data on offshore assets of world leaders were leaked.
12 national leaders including prime ministers, presidents and monarchs were reported to have corrupt connections to offshore tax havens.
214,000 companies used offshore tax haven in Panama.
11.5 million documents were leaked including shareholders, emails, bank details.
POSTER: “LYGMUNDUR [Name of Prime Minister] Get the F**K OUT.
PLACARD: “BROADCASTED CORRUPTION”
What People at Protest Say?
There are two ways how the situation can continue. The first scenario is that the situation will go back to ‘normal’ after the government will take the situation back in their hands. That will mean that offshore tax havens will still be used and people will still be fooled.
The second scenario is what Icelanders are doing right now. They are staying on the main square of the capital, because they know that PM resignation is not the solution — only full review and investigation of the scandal will bring positive impact.
This is what people told me, when I asked them.
What Can Happen?
One Icelander explained to me what can happen, in a brief and precise comment:
“Many are demanding immediate elections, including the opposition parties. There are still two ministers mentioned in the Panama papers who haven’t stepped down. There were unclear news that the PM only stepped down for an undetermined time. And he is still a member of Parliament. The ‘new’ PM doesn't seem to agree that Sigmundur did anything wrong. And mostly we are protesting corruption! The ruling parties don’t seem to realize what really we are protesting. I hope this was clear enough and that I’m not forgetting anything. And also, this is my opinion, maybe not everyone agrees.”
This post wouldn’t be possible without of help of great ‘Instagrammers’ who agreed to share their photos to make this post.
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