Haarde done by

29 September 2010 By Neil Collins

Retired leaders should be liable for corruption or war crimes. But Iceland’s decision to charge its former premier with negligence during the banking crisis sets a poor precedent for any civilised state. It looks vindictive, and will deter future politicians from seeking office.

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The Icelandic parliament on Sept. 28 decided by 33 votes to 30 to bring court charges for negligence against Geir Haarde, the country's prime minister between 2006 and 2008.

The prosecution will require the first ever sitting of the Landsdomur, a special court set up in 1905 to try government ministers accused of crimes.

The parliament declined to press charges against other ministers in Haarde's cabinet. The current prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, had been a member of his coalition cabinet.

A 2,000page report into the banking collapse from Iceland's Special Investigation Commission found "negligence" among a number of senior figures, and evidence of possible insider trading by key Icelandic investors.

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