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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iceland approves new Icesave deal | Iceland approves new Icesave deal |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Iceland's parliament has approved plans to repay 3.8bn euros (£3.4bn) to savers in the UK and the Netherlands. | |
| The money will go to the British and Dutch governments, who partially compensated savers when the Icesave online bank failed. | The money will go to the British and Dutch governments, who partially compensated savers when the Icesave online bank failed. |
| More than 320,000 savers lost out when the bank collapsed in 2008. | More than 320,000 savers lost out when the bank collapsed in 2008. |
| A bill on the measure, narrowly approved against strong opposition, was seen as crucial to Iceland's bid to join the EU and rebuild its economy. | A bill on the measure, narrowly approved against strong opposition, was seen as crucial to Iceland's bid to join the EU and rebuild its economy. |
| The bill was passed by 33 votes to 30. The Icelandic government had threatened to resign if the measure was rejected. | The bill was passed by 33 votes to 30. The Icelandic government had threatened to resign if the measure was rejected. |
| "Approving the bill is the better option and will avoid even more economic damage," Finance Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson said during the debate. | "Approving the bill is the better option and will avoid even more economic damage," Finance Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson said during the debate. |
| "History will show that we are doing the right thing." | "History will show that we are doing the right thing." |
| But the bill's opponents argue ordinary Icelanders should not have to pay and say the compensation amounts to some 12,000 euros for each citizen on the island nation of 320,000. | But the bill's opponents argue ordinary Icelanders should not have to pay and say the compensation amounts to some 12,000 euros for each citizen on the island nation of 320,000. |
| A poll taken in August suggests that 70% of Icelanders were against the Icesave deal. | A poll taken in August suggests that 70% of Icelanders were against the Icesave deal. |
| An original agreement - negotiated with the British and Dutch governments - was approved in August. | An original agreement - negotiated with the British and Dutch governments - was approved in August. |
| But subsequent amendments negotiated by the prime minister were rejected in both countries, forcing a fresh vote. | But subsequent amendments negotiated by the prime minister were rejected in both countries, forcing a fresh vote. |
| Under the new deal the money - which represents 40% of the country's gross domestic product - will be repaid gradually, staggered until 2024. | Under the new deal the money - which represents 40% of the country's gross domestic product - will be repaid gradually, staggered until 2024. |