A total of nine candidates managed to collect the requisite number of signatures from voters to have their candidacies for the presidential election approved by election authorities. The election will be held on June 25. However, according to a new poll only three candidates enjoy support in the double digits. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, an associate professor of history at the University of Iceland, holds a commanding lead over other candidates. 65.5% of voters say they would vote for Guðni.
A colorful and dramatic race
The surprise decision by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the president of Iceland, on April 18 to seek re-election to a sixth term, after having previously announced he was retiring this summer, and then his equally sudden decision to pull out of the race, have already ensured that the race is one of the most tumultuous in Icelandic political history. The dramatic entry of Davíð Oddsson, the former PM of Iceland and one of the most controversial political figures of recent decades into the race on May 8 and the historically large number of candidates have contributed further colour to an already historic contest.
Read more: Analysis: Presidential race heats up as former PM enters the race, a bomb thrown into the race
As many as 22 people had on some point declared they would be running for president, but many had already withdrawn their candidacy before the May 21 deadline to turn in the necessary paperwork. These included the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who withdrew his candidacy on May and several long-shot candidates, including hamburger chef who had entered the race as a marketing stunt. On May 21 it was clear nine candidates were deemed to fulfill all requirements.
History professor holds a commanding lead among the nine contestants
Nine candidates will be on the ballot on June 25. According to a MMR poll, which was conducted on May 12-20 shows that associate professor Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, who has lead in the polls since he announced his candidacy on May 5, holds a commanding lead with 65.6% support. Davíð Oddsson, the former Prime Minister and chairman of the conservative Independence Party came second with 18.1% support. Author and environmental activist Andri Snær Magnason came in third with 11% support. Other candidates polled in the single digits. Halla Tómasdóttir, co-founder of Auður Capital financial services, enjoys the support of 2.2% of voters
Long-shots and serial candidates
The poll shows the other five candidates enjoyed with combined support of 3% of voters. These include three women, a poet Elísabet Jökulsdóttir and Guðrún Margrét Pálsdóttir, a nurse and one of the founders of ABC Barnahjálp, an Icelandic children’s charity and Hildur Þórðardóttir, an energy healer and health food advocate who has been criticized for denouncing western science.
Two outspoken and eccentric serial candidates, who have yet to meet with electoral success are also running. Activist Sturla Jónsson, who became nationally known during the protests following the 2008 financial crash the “pots and pans revolution” but failed to turn this fame into a political career. Sturla made an unsuccessful run as an independent candidate in the 2013 parliamentary elections and the 2012 elections to a constitutional assembly.
Finally, the colourful peace activist and businessman Ástþór Magnússon is running. Ástþór has previously attempted to run for president in every election since 1996, except the 2008 election. Ástþór has accused the media, especially the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, of having joined a wide-ranging conspiracy to silence his candidacy and secure the election of Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.
A total of nine candidates managed to collect the requisite number of signatures from voters to have their candidacies for the presidential election approved by election authorities. The election will be held on June 25. However, according to a new poll only three candidates enjoy support in the double digits. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, an associate professor of history at the University of Iceland, holds a commanding lead over other candidates. 65.5% of voters say they would vote for Guðni.
A colorful and dramatic race
The surprise decision by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the president of Iceland, on April 18 to seek re-election to a sixth term, after having previously announced he was retiring this summer, and then his equally sudden decision to pull out of the race, have already ensured that the race is one of the most tumultuous in Icelandic political history. The dramatic entry of Davíð Oddsson, the former PM of Iceland and one of the most controversial political figures of recent decades into the race on May 8 and the historically large number of candidates have contributed further colour to an already historic contest.
Read more: Analysis: Presidential race heats up as former PM enters the race, a bomb thrown into the race
As many as 22 people had on some point declared they would be running for president, but many had already withdrawn their candidacy before the May 21 deadline to turn in the necessary paperwork. These included the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who withdrew his candidacy on May and several long-shot candidates, including hamburger chef who had entered the race as a marketing stunt. On May 21 it was clear nine candidates were deemed to fulfill all requirements.
History professor holds a commanding lead among the nine contestants
Nine candidates will be on the ballot on June 25. According to a MMR poll, which was conducted on May 12-20 shows that associate professor Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, who has lead in the polls since he announced his candidacy on May 5, holds a commanding lead with 65.6% support. Davíð Oddsson, the former Prime Minister and chairman of the conservative Independence Party came second with 18.1% support. Author and environmental activist Andri Snær Magnason came in third with 11% support. Other candidates polled in the single digits. Halla Tómasdóttir, co-founder of Auður Capital financial services, enjoys the support of 2.2% of voters
Long-shots and serial candidates
The poll shows the other five candidates enjoyed with combined support of 3% of voters. These include three women, a poet Elísabet Jökulsdóttir and Guðrún Margrét Pálsdóttir, a nurse and one of the founders of ABC Barnahjálp, an Icelandic children’s charity and Hildur Þórðardóttir, an energy healer and health food advocate who has been criticized for denouncing western science.
Two outspoken and eccentric serial candidates, who have yet to meet with electoral success are also running. Activist Sturla Jónsson, who became nationally known during the protests following the 2008 financial crash the “pots and pans revolution” but failed to turn this fame into a political career. Sturla made an unsuccessful run as an independent candidate in the 2013 parliamentary elections and the 2012 elections to a constitutional assembly.
Finally, the colourful peace activist and businessman Ástþór Magnússon is running. Ástþór has previously attempted to run for president in every election since 1996, except the 2008 election. Ástþór has accused the media, especially the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, of having joined a wide-ranging conspiracy to silence his candidacy and secure the election of Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.
