Halla Tomasdottir Wins Iceland's Presidential Election with 32.8% of the Votes

In a historic election, Halla Tomasdottir, a businesswoman and investor, has been elected President of Iceland, securing 32.8% of the votes. Tomasdottir, 55, defeated former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, who received 25.2% of the votes, and environmental expert Halla Hrund Logadottir, who secured 15.5% of the votes.

Why this matters: Halla Tomasdottir's election as Iceland's president marks a significant milestone in the country's commitment to gender equality, which has been recognized globally. This victory could inspire other countries to prioritize gender equality and promote more inclusive political representation.

Tomasdottir campaigned independently, focusing on key issues such as impact of social media on mental health, Iceland's development into a tourist destination, and role of artificial intelligence. She will assume the largely ceremonial post on August 1, replacing President Gudni Th. Johannesson, who did not seek re-election after two four-year terms.

Iceland, a Nordic island nation with a population of approximately 384,000, has a long tradition of electing women to high office. Significantly, Vigdis Finnbogadottir was the first democratically elected female president of any nation in 1980. The country has also seen two women serve as prime minister in recent years, including Johanna Sigurdardottir and Katrin Jakobsdottir.

Tomasdottir's background includes co-founding Audur Capital, one of the few Icelandic investment firms that survived the 2008 financial crisis. She is currently on leave as chief executive of the B Team, a non-profit organization promoting workplace diversity with offices in New York and London.

This election marks a significant milestone in Icelandic history, with the top three finishers being all women. Tomasdottir's victory is seen as a continuation of Iceland's commitment to gender equality, which has been recognized globally. The World Economic Forum recently ranked Iceland the most gender-equal country in the world in 2023.

In her victory speech, Tomasdottir emphasized her commitment to addressing the issues she campaigned on and working towards a more inclusive and forward-thinking Iceland. "I feel incredibly good. I know it's not over until it's over. So I'm also just trying to stay calm and breathe," she said.

Katrin Jakobsdottir, who stepped down as prime minister to run in the election, conceded defeat and congratulated Tomasdottir. "It seems to me that Halla Tomasdottir is quickly heading towards becoming the next president of Iceland. I congratulate her on that and know that she will be a good president," Jakobsdottir remarked.

As Iceland prepares for Tomasdottir's inauguration on August 1, the nation looks forward to her leadership and the potential changes she will bring to the presidency. Her election is not just a personal victory but a demonstration of Iceland's progressive stance on gender equality and political representation.

Key Takeaways

• Halla Tomasdottir elected President of Iceland with 32.8% of votes.
• Tomasdottir's win marks a milestone in Iceland's commitment to gender equality.
• She campaigned on issues like social media's impact on mental health and AI's role.
• Tomasdottir will assume the ceremonial post on August 1, replacing Gudni Th. Johannesson.
• Iceland has a strong tradition of electing women to high office, including two female PMs.