Presidential elections were held in Iceland on 1 June 2024. Incumbent president Guðni Th. Jóhannesson announced that he would not seek a third term. Entrepreneur Halla Tómasdóttir was elected as his successor, and took office on 1 August.
Background.
The previous presidential elections on 27 June 2020 saw incumbent president Guðni Th. Jóhannesson re-elected for a second four-year term with 92% of the vote, over Guðmundur Franklín Jónsson. The office of President is not term-limited; however, despite being eligible to serve a third term, Guðni announced in his New Year's address to the Icelandic people on 1 January 2024 that he would not stand for re-election again.
Electoral system.
The President of Iceland is directly elected by first-past-the-post voting, with a simple plurality of votes needed to win. Candidates must be Icelandic citizens and at least 35 years of age on election day.
On election day polling stations opened at 09:00 and ran until 22:00.
Candidates.
Prospective presidential candidates had until 26 April 2024 to collect more than 1,500 voter signatures to secure ballot access. Eighty candidates sought voter signatures by that date. The following individuals have received media attention for their potential candidacy for the position of president. On 29 April 2024, the National Electoral Commission announced which candidates had secured ballot access.
Withdrew or failed to get ballot access.
These candidates failed to collect enough signatures before the deadline expired.
Campaign issues.
Presidential debates have featured Iceland's membership in NATO, military aid for Ukraine, the possible sale of the state energy firm Landsvirkjun and the use of veto powers by the Presidency. Questions were also raised on whether Katrín Jakobsdóttir's background as a politician and prime minister would affect her tenure in office, to which she said that she "can rise above party politics". Halla Tómasdóttir ran her campaign on issues such as the effects of social media on the mental health of youth, tourism development and the role of artificial intelligence.
Reactions.
After her victory was confirmed, Halla Tómasdóttir was congratulated by runner-up and former prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
References.
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