Yes, he was trying to retaliate against his own party for not supporting him. The president wasn't ready to approve the request without at least first talking

Yes, he was trying to retaliate against his own party for not supporting him. The president wasn't ready to approve the request without at least first talking to the leader of the other coalition party to see if they were in agreement. http://www.visir.is/forseti-neitar-sigmundi-um-heimild-til-thingrofs/article/2016160409336 http://www.visir.is/forseti-neitar-sigmundi-um-heimild-til-t... And now it seems the former PM is accusing the president of lying.. http://www.visir.is/sigmundur-david-segir-forsetann-hafa-sagt-osatt/article/2016160409279 http://www.visir.is/sigmundur-david-segir-forsetann-hafa-sag... I'm pretty sure what happened is that he wanted the approval to dissolve the parliament, and then would then wave this authorization in the face of the other coalition party as a way to blackmail them for support.