Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson’s decision to run for a sixth term in the June presidential elections has received a very mixed reception. The immediate reaction from members of the ruling centre-right coalition was one of relief and support, while the political opposition in Parliament has expressed frustration. Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson expressed his support for the President. A historian at the University of Iceland points out that an endorsement by the Prime Minister has historically doomed Presidential candidacies to failure.
Only kings remain this long in office
According to analysis by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV indicates the support and opposition to Ólafur Ragnar is split politically, with members and supporters of the ruling centre-right coalition more positive towards his decision to run again while the opponents of the government are less happy. Birgitta Jónsdóttir, who is considered the leader of the Pirate Party, which been polling as the most popular political party in Iceland for over a year, told RÚV she was offended by the President’s speech at yesterday’s press conference. “Heads of state do remain in office for this long, except when they are kings,” she added.
Read more: Breaking: Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson announces he will run for a sixth term as President of Iceland
The Prime Minister, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannesson, told RÚV he supported the president who had “served his nation very well in recent years, both here at home and internationally.” Unlike Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who has maintained consistently high favourability ratings, Sigurður Ingi, who replaced Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, who resigned over revelations in the Panama Papers, remains wildly unpopular. According to a Gallup poll only 5% of Icelanders would like to see Sigurður Ingi as Prime Minister, if elections were held today.
Support by PM has historically doomed presidential camapigns
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, associate professor of history at the University of Iceland, told the local TV station Stöð 2 that every presidential candidate who enjoyed the support of the sitting Prime Minister had lost. If Ólafur Ragnar wins re-election he would therefore break this historical precedent. A loss would of course also make history, since no sitting president in Iceland has ever lost re-election.
Ólafur Ragnar remains very popular. A recent poll by polling firm MMR showed Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson enjoyed more trust than any other major political figure in Iceland. Nearly half (48.5%) of voters said they trusted Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, while less than a third (29.2%) said they distrusted him.
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson’s decision to run for a sixth term in the June presidential elections has received a very mixed reception. The immediate reaction from members of the ruling centre-right coalition was one of relief and support, while the political opposition in Parliament has expressed frustration. Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson expressed his support for the President. A historian at the University of Iceland points out that an endorsement by the Prime Minister has historically doomed Presidential candidacies to failure.
Only kings remain this long in office
According to analysis by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV indicates the support and opposition to Ólafur Ragnar is split politically, with members and supporters of the ruling centre-right coalition more positive towards his decision to run again while the opponents of the government are less happy. Birgitta Jónsdóttir, who is considered the leader of the Pirate Party, which been polling as the most popular political party in Iceland for over a year, told RÚV she was offended by the President’s speech at yesterday’s press conference. “Heads of state do remain in office for this long, except when they are kings,” she added.
Read more: Breaking: Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson announces he will run for a sixth term as President of Iceland
The Prime Minister, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannesson, told RÚV he supported the president who had “served his nation very well in recent years, both here at home and internationally.” Unlike Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who has maintained consistently high favourability ratings, Sigurður Ingi, who replaced Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, who resigned over revelations in the Panama Papers, remains wildly unpopular. According to a Gallup poll only 5% of Icelanders would like to see Sigurður Ingi as Prime Minister, if elections were held today.
Support by PM has historically doomed presidential camapigns
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, associate professor of history at the University of Iceland, told the local TV station Stöð 2 that every presidential candidate who enjoyed the support of the sitting Prime Minister had lost. If Ólafur Ragnar wins re-election he would therefore break this historical precedent. A loss would of course also make history, since no sitting president in Iceland has ever lost re-election.
Ólafur Ragnar remains very popular. A recent poll by polling firm MMR showed Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson enjoyed more trust than any other major political figure in Iceland. Nearly half (48.5%) of voters said they trusted Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, while less than a third (29.2%) said they distrusted him.
