Businesswoman and CEO of B Team, Halla Tomasdottir, has been elected as the seventh President of Iceland. She will officially take over from the current President, Guani Johannesson, on August 1, as reported.
Halla Tomasdottir is the second woman to be elected President of Iceland, following in the footsteps of Vigdis Finnbogadottir, who made history in 1980 as the first democratically elected female president in the world.
In the election, Halla Tomasdottir secured 34.3% of the vote. Former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir came in second with 25.2%. Halla Hrund Logadottir, the Director General, received 15.1%, while comedian Jon Gnarr and Professor Baldur Thorhallsson finished in fourth and fifth places, respectively, according to the Iceland Review.
Upon her victory, Katrin Jakobsdottir expressed her support for Halla Tomasdottir, stating, “I want to congratulate her and I know she’ll be a good president.”
At her campaign celebration, Halla Tomasdottir said, “I think people want to discuss our society and take part in it. I feel the energy of the people who have joined me on this journey.”
The voter turnout for this election was 78.83%, the highest in a presidential election since 1996, RUV reported. During her campaign, Tomasdottir emphasized unity, saying, “I only see one team in Iceland and that’s Icelanders.”
She also expressed a desire to make Bessastadir, the official residence of the President, a home for the nation’s collective values.
Outgoing President Guani Johannesson, who defeated Halla Tomasdottir in the 2016 election, acknowledged the strength of her message, stating that it had clearly resonated with voters. He also noted that Katrin Jakobsdottir had faced significant scrutiny for her decision to resign as Prime Minister and leader of the Left-Green Movement to run for President.
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President Johannesson announced on January 1 that he would not seek reelection after serving two terms. He will continue to serve as President until August 1, when Halla Tomasdottir takes office.
While the role of the President of Iceland is largely ceremonial with limited political powers, the position holds significant influence over Icelandic society. Halla Tomasdottir’s election marks a historic moment for the country, as she steps into a role that blends tradition with a vision for the future.
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