MP: ministers should be punished for overspending

Two recent taxpayer-funded construction projects – the Glasir educational centre and the new H-building at the National Hospital – have gone massively over budget.

The only way to avoid this from happening again is harsh punishment, possibly a prison sentence, of the minister responsible for the overspending.

This is the view of Tordur Niclasen, MP for Miðflokkurin (the Central Party), expressed in Parliament last month after health minister Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen announced that the National Hospital’s H-building currently under construction is DKK 152 million over budget.

Setting an example

Imposing a fine, or even a prison term, on the minister found to be responsible for the overspending would be a useful way to set an example and to avoid this from happening again, he said.

He referred to the law on ministerial responsibility, which states that:

“A minister or a prime minister will receive punishment if he (…) provides incorrect or misleading information to Parliament or if he withholds information during a Parliamentary debate. The punishment (…) consists of a fine, mitigated imprisonment or an unconditional prison term of up to two years.”

Translated by prosa.fo