In a significant development in Icelandic politics, the President of Iceland approved the resignation of the nation’s Minister for Children. The decision was necessitated by revelations of a past relationship involving the minister and a teenager, set over thirty years ago.
Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir resigned from her position following a report by Iceland’s national broadcaster, which indicated that she was involved in a relationship at the age of 23 with a person who was 16 at the time. This relationship, which took place 35 years ago, reportedly began after the two met at a church youth group when the teenager was 15.
Although Iceland’s legal age of sexual consent is 15, legal ramifications can still arise if an adult engages in sexual activity with a teenager under their tutelage or mentorship. Thórsdóttir addressed the situation, explaining in a statement that she was merely a participant in the church group and not in any authoritative role. She noted that relationships among individuals of such age gaps were more common during that time, albeit not ideal.
Thórsdóttir clarified that the relationship lasted briefly, spanning just a few weeks, although the father still attended the birth of their child. Reports from RUV suggested that the father pursued custody engagement through both governmental and ecclesiastical channels but was only granted limited visitations despite contributing child support until the child came of age at 18.
The minister expressed that the father had shown minimal effort to develop a relationship with their son over the years. In the wake of these revelations, she formally tendered her resignation at a State Council meeting, which included the participation of President Halla Tómasdóttir and other government officials.
Despite stepping down from her ministerial role, Thórsdóttir will remain a member of parliament, representing the People’s Party. This party is one of the entities within a coalition government governed by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir from the Social Democratic Alliance.
Iceland, a remarkable country located just below the Arctic Circle, boasts a population of fewer than 400,000 citizens. The country’s parliament, established in 930 by Viking settlers, holds the distinction of being one of the oldest legislative assemblies worldwide.