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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Petition against Icesave pay-out | Petition against Icesave pay-out |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Almost a quarter of voters in Iceland have signed a petition against plans to repay money lost by foreigners when an Icelandic online bank collapsed. | Almost a quarter of voters in Iceland have signed a petition against plans to repay money lost by foreigners when an Icelandic online bank collapsed. |
| The petition urges the president to veto the bill that allows the move, and calls for a referendum on the issue. | The petition urges the president to veto the bill that allows the move, and calls for a referendum on the issue. |
| Iceland's parliament has approved the plans to reimburse 3.8bn euros (£3.4bn) lost by Dutch and British savers when the Icesave scheme failed in 2008. | Iceland's parliament has approved the plans to reimburse 3.8bn euros (£3.4bn) lost by Dutch and British savers when the Icesave scheme failed in 2008. |
| Many taxpayers say they are being made to pay for the bank's mistakes. | Many taxpayers say they are being made to pay for the bank's mistakes. |
| The compensation amounts to some 12,000 euros for each citizen on the island nation of 320,000. | The compensation amounts to some 12,000 euros for each citizen on the island nation of 320,000. |
| Staggering payments | Staggering payments |
| A poll taken in August suggested that 70% of Icelanders were against the deal, which was approved by Parliament earlier this week. | A poll taken in August suggested that 70% of Icelanders were against the deal, which was approved by Parliament earlier this week. |
| More than 56,000 - about 23% of Iceland's voters - signed the petition urging President Olaf Ragnar Grimsson not to sign the bill. | More than 56,000 - about 23% of Iceland's voters - signed the petition urging President Olaf Ragnar Grimsson not to sign the bill. |
| Magnus Arni Skulason, one of the organisers of the petition, compared the repayment to financing the country's health service. | Magnus Arni Skulason, one of the organisers of the petition, compared the repayment to financing the country's health service. |
| "We were able to represent our arguments to the president, and also on the occasion we handed over a petition to ask the president to reject the current Icesave bill," he told the BBC. | "We were able to represent our arguments to the president, and also on the occasion we handed over a petition to ask the president to reject the current Icesave bill," he told the BBC. |
| "The interest rate on the Icesave agreement for Iceland is like running the National Health Service of Iceland for six months." | "The interest rate on the Icesave agreement for Iceland is like running the National Health Service of Iceland for six months." |
| The Icelandic government had threatened to resign if the deal was rejected by MPs. | The Icelandic government had threatened to resign if the deal was rejected by MPs. |
| "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. |
| Icesave - the internet arm of Icelandic bank Landsbanki, which offered high interest rates - failed in October 2008. | Icesave - the internet arm of Icelandic bank Landsbanki, which offered high interest rates - failed in October 2008. |
| 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 GDP - will be repaid gradually, staggered until 2024. | Under the new deal the money - which represents 40% of the country's GDP - will be repaid gradually, staggered until 2024. |
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