Iceland's prime minister plans to quit and run for presidency

DPA
·1 min read
Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir attends a press conference with then German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not pictured). Jakobsdottir plans to resign in order to run for the presidency. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir attends a press conference with then German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not pictured). Jakobsdottir plans to resign in order to run for the presidency. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
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Iceland's Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir plans to resign in order to run for the presidency.

She decided some time ago not to run in the next parliamentary elections, she explained in a video on Facebook on Friday.

Many people had encouraged her to run for the largely ceremonial role of president and head of state, she added.

It remained unclear when exactly the 48-year-old will step down and who could succeed her.

Jakobsdottir represents the left-wing Green Party and has been prime minister of the country with a population of 400,000 since 2017.

Icelandic President Gudni Th. Jóhannesson had announced in his New Year's address that he would not be standing for re-election. The presidential elections in Iceland are expected to take place on June 1.