The Socialist Party demands action

The Executive Committee, the Party Board, and the Policy Committee of the Socialist Party of Iceland demand that the government and Alþingi immediately take action to prevent the history of 2008 from repeating itself, when the public bore all the shocks due to the man-made disasters that then swept over the Icelandic economy and business life. The capitalist forces behind the government want to use current and foreseeable shocks to transfer money, assets, and power from the public to the few rich and powerful, abolish taxes on companies and capital, extend state guarantees to the debts of private companies, support larger companies in acquiring smaller ones, and otherwise promote the concentration of power and wealth. The Socialist Party of Iceland rejects such measures and demands that Alþingi, and the government it has formed, work first and foremost in the interests of the public, which grants the parliament its mandate.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that the laws on public finances be changed so that the authorities can use the state treasury to protect the public from shocks.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that laws be enacted to disconnect indexation so that the fall of the króna does not automatically increase public debt at the same time as the capital of the wealthy is protected.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that a cap be placed on rent so that it will be prohibited to rent out residential housing for more than 1500 kr. per square meter and that it will be forbidden to evict tenants until the economic recession has passed.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that loan payments for people who lose their jobs or suffer income loss due to reduced work or salary cuts be frozen until they regain employment or achieve comparable income as before.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that disability pensions and retirement pensions from the State Social Security Institute be equal to the lowest wages. By increasing the purchasing power of the poorest, the economy is stimulated, contrary to when money is transferred to the rich.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that the state undertake the construction of social housing to counteract the contraction in the economy.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that the welfare systems; tax system benefits, the health and education system, unemployment benefits, and all social assistance be protected and strengthened to meet the increased needs of the public.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that taxes on incomes below minimum wage be abolished, but taxes on capital gains and high wage incomes be increased in return. In addition, a 2.5% wealth tax shall be imposed on net assets exceeding 100 million kr.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that the state and municipalities ensure access to food for everyone, especially those who have had to seek it from aid organizations, which have now ceased operations due to the coronavirus.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that a tax be imposed on the foreign exchange profits of exporters due to the fall of the króna. It must not happen again that the significant profits of the fishing industry from the utilization of public resources become exorbitant profits due to the fall of the króna, at the same time as the public suffered a severe loss of purchasing power.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that the proposed sale of the state's stake in the banks be stopped and that all plans for privatization, outsourcing, or other transfer of public assets or public sector tasks to private companies be halted.

The Socialist Party of Iceland demands that capital controls be imposed to stop the flight of capital by the wealthy and to ensure that the proceeds from the sale of products by Icelandic export companies return to the country, and are not hidden in offshore accounts.