2024 Icelandic presidential election

Presidential election in Iceland

2024 Icelandic presidential election

* * *

| <- 2020 | 1 June 2024 | 2028 ->

|
|

* * *

| Incumbent President

Guðni Th. Jóhannesson

|

Politics of Iceland

Government

* Constitution of Iceland

* Law
* Taxation

* * *

* Constitutional reform

Legislature

* Althing

* Speaker Birgir Ármannsson (D)

* Members of Parliament

* * *

* Constituencies

Executive

* President of Iceland

* Guðni Th. Jóhannesson (I)

* Prime Minister of Iceland

* Bjarni Benediktsson (D)

* * *

* Cabinet

Judiciary

* Supreme Court of Iceland

* President Benedikt Bogason

* Justices of the Court

Elections

* Presidential
* Parliamentary

* * *

* 2012 referendum

Political parties

* List of political parties

Administrative divisions

* Regions (Landshlutar)

* Municipalities (Sveitarfélög)

* Localities (Kaupstaðir)

Foreign relations

* Diplomatic missions
* of Iceland
* in Iceland
* Iceland and the European Union
* Cod Wars (1950s / 1970s)

Iceland portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

Presidential elections are due to be held in Iceland on 1 June 2024.[1][2] Incumbent president Guðni Th. Jóhannesson has announced he will not be seeking a third term.[1]

## Background[edit]

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.[3] 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.[4]

## Electoral system[edit]

The President of Iceland is directly elected by first-past-the-post voting, with a simple plurality of votes needed to win.[5] Candidates must be Icelandic citizens and at least 35 years of age on election day.[6]

## Candidates[edit]

Prospective presidential candidates had until 26 April 2024 to collect more than 1,500 voter signatures to secure ballot access. 80 candidates sought voter signatures as of the deadline on 26 April 2024. 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.

### Confirmed candidates[edit]

Below is a list of verified candidates.

Candidate  | Office(s)  | Campaign logo  | Details

|
|
|

Name
(Age)  | Image
Arnar Þór Jónsson [is]
(53)  |  |  | Former Deputy MP for the Independence Party
(2021–2024) |  | Arnar Þór is a lawyer and former judge who holds the right to speak before the Supreme Court of Iceland. He resigned his seat in the Althing and his membership with the Independence Party to run for President.[7]
Ásdís Rán Gunnarsdóttir
(44)  |  |  | None
|  | Ásdís Rán is a model and entrepreneur. She worked as a television producer in the 1990s.[8]
Ástþór Magnússon
(70)  |  |  | None |  | Ástþór is a businessman, activist, and perennial candidate, having run for President of Iceland in 1996, 2004, 2012, and 2016 — he had planned to run in 2000, but failed to get the necessary qualifying signatures. He is known for his Pro-Russian views.[9][10]
Baldur Þórhallsson
(56)  |  |  | Former Deputy MP for the Social Democratic Alliance
(2009–2013) |  | Baldur is a political science professor at the University of Iceland. He was previously a deputy member of the Althing for the Social Democratic Alliance.[11]
Eiríkur Ingi Jóhannsson [is]
(47)  |  |  | None |  | Eiríkur Ingi is a fisherman who survived a sea disaster in 2012.[12]
Halla Hrund Logadóttir
(43)  |  |  | Director of Energy Affairs at Orkustofnun [is]
(since 2021) |  | Halla Hrund is the Director of Energy Affairs at the Icelandic Energy Agency, and is the first woman to hold the position. She is also an adjunct professor at Harvard University in the United States.[13]
Halla Tómasdóttir
(55)  |  |  | None
|  | Halla is a businessperson who has been CEO of The B Team since 2018. She finished as runner-up to Guðni Th. Jóhannesson in the 2016 presidential election.[14]
Helga Þórisdóttir [is]
(55)  |  |  | Data Protection Commissioner |  | Helga is the current Data Protection Commissioner and a former prosecutor.[15]
Jón Gnarr
(57)  |  |  | 20th Mayor of Reykjavík (2010–2014)

Other offices

* Campaign manager for the Social Democratic Alliance at the 2017 Althing election

|  | Gnarr is an actor and comedian who served one term as Mayor of Reykjavík for the Best Party, where his election and tenure in office made international headlines. He joined the Social Democratic Alliance in 2017.[16]
Katrín Jakobsdóttir
(48)  |  |  | 28th Prime Minister of Iceland
(2017–2024)

Other offices

* Chair of the Left-Green Movement (2013–2024)
* Minister of Education, Science and Culture (2009–2013)
* MP for the Left-Green Movement (2007–2024)

|  | Katrín is the former Prime Minister of Iceland, the first member of the Left-Green Movement to hold that position, overseeing a coalition government including her party, the Independence Party, and the Progressive Party. She has been a member of the Althing since 2007, and was chair of her party from 2013 to 2024. She resigned both as chair of the Left-Green Movement and as Prime Minister to run for President.[17][18]
Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir
(54)  |  |  | None |  | Steinunn Ólína is an actress, TV show host, producer and writer.[19][20]
Viktor Traustason [is]
(35)  |  |  | None |  | Viktor is an economist. His endorsement list was initially declared invalid, but later corrected and confirmed on 2 May.[21]

### Withdrew or failed to get ballot access[edit]

These candidates failed to collect enough signatures before the deadline expired.

* Agnieszka Sokolowska, project manager at the Capital Region Fire Service.[22]
* Angela Snæfellsjökuls Rawlings, artist-researcher, on behalf of "Snæfellsjökul fyrir forseta", a geocultural intervention to nominate the non-human candidate Snæfellsjökull.[23]
* Axel Pétur Axelsson, conspiracy theorist[24]
* Guðbergur Guðbergsson, real estate agent and former stunt man[25]
* Guðmundur Felix Grétarsson, former electrician and the world's first double-arm and shoulder transplant receiver[26]
* Húni Húnfjörð, business administrator, teacher and former basketball player[27]
* Kári Vilmundarson Hansen, disc jockey. Endorsement list declared invalid on 29 April.[28]
* Margrét Friðriksdóttir, editor. Withdrew on 28 March after seeking voter signatures for five days.[29]
* Sigríður Hrund Pétursdóttir, investor. Declared on 12 January and Withdrew on 26 April.[30]
* Tómas Logi Hallgrímsson, rescue worker. Declared on 5 January and withdrew on 20 March (endorsed Baldur Þórhallsson)[31][32]

### Declined[edit]

* Alma Möller, Director of Health[33][34]
* Andri Snær Magnason, writer and a candidate in the 2016 presidential election[35]
* Björgvin Páll Gústavsson, handball player[36]
* Björn Zoëga, CEO Karolinska University Hospital[37][38]
* Dagur B. Eggertsson, former Mayor of Reykjavík[39]
* Guðmundur Franklín Jónsson, businessman and a candidate in the 2020 presidential election[40]
* Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland from 2016 to 2024[41]
* Gylfi Þór Þorsteinsson, team manager of the Icelandic Red Cross's fundraising and promotion department[42][43]
* Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, former leader of the Social Democratic Alliance, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mayor of Reykjavík[35]
* Jakob Frímann Magnússon, musical artist and MP for the People’s Party (endorsed Katrín Jakobsdóttir)[44]
* Magnús Geir Þórðarson, artistic director of the National Theatre of Iceland[35]
* Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, businessman and writer[45]
* Páll Pálsson, real estate agent[46][47]
* Róbert Spanó, former President of the European Court of Human Rights[48]
* Víðir Reynisson, police officer and the Chief superintendent of the Office of the National Commissioner of the Police[49]
* Þorgrímur Þráinsson, writer[35]
* Þórólfur Guðnason, doctor who serverd as the Chief Epidemiologist of the Icelandic Directorate of Health[50]
* Þóra Arnórsdóttir, documentary film maker, media personality and a candidate in the 2012 presidential election[35]

## Opinion polls[edit]

### Confirmed candidates[edit]

Polling firm  | Fieldwork
date

|

Arnar Þór Jónsson  | Ásdís Rán Gunnarsdóttir  | Ástþór Magnússon  | Baldur Þórhallsson  | Eiríkur Ingi Jóhannsson  | Halla Hrund Logadóttir  | Halla Tómasdóttir  | Helga Þórisdóttir  | Jón Gnarr  | Katrín Jakobsdóttir  | Steinunn Ólína
Þorsteinsdóttir  | Viktor Traustason  | Others/Undecided
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maskína | 8–16 May 2024  | 5.2  | 0.4  | 0.7  | 16.2  | 0.1  | 21.8  | 14.9  | 0.2  | 12.6  | 26.1 | 1.1  | 0.7  | –
Prósent | 7–12 May 2024  | 5.7  | 0.4  | 0.7  | 17.9  | 0.1  | 26.0 | 12.5  | 0.5  | 13.8  | 19.2  | 1.8  | 1.5  | –
Gallup | 3–9 May 2024  | 6  | –  | –  | 18  | –  | 25 | 11  | –  | 10  | 25 | 1  | 2  | 1
Maskína | 30 Apr–8 May 2024  | 4.2  | 1.2  | 0.4  | 18.9  | 0.1  | 29.7 | 5.4  | 0.8  | 11.2  | 26.7  | 1.2  | 0.6  | –
EMC | 2–8 May 2024  | 4.5  | 0.6  | 0.3  | 21.8  | 0.3  | 29.1 | 4.1  | 0.3  | 13.0  | 22.9  | 1.1  | 2.0  | –
Prósent | 30 Apr–5 May 2024  | 4.3  | 1.0  | 1.1  | 20.4  | 0.2  | 29.7 | 5.1  | 0.3  | 14.7  | 21.3  | 1.9  | –  | –
Maskína | 22 Apr–3 May 2024  | 4.2  | 1.5  | 0.3  | 19.9  | 0.1  | 29.4 | 3.7  | 0.4  | 12.9  | 26.8  | 0.9  | –  | –
Gallup | 26 Apr–2 May 2024  | 3  | –  | –  | 19  | –  | 36 | 4  | –  | 10  | 23  | 2  | –  | 2
Háskóli Íslands | 22–30 Apr 2024  | 4.1  | 0.5  | 0.9  | 23.6  | 0.1  | 27.6  | 4.5  | 0.2  | 7.4  | 29.9 | 1.3  | –  | –
Prósent | 23–28 Apr 2024  | 2.7  | 1.9  | 0.5  | 25.0  | –  | 28.5 | 3.9  | 0.2  | 16.0  | 18.0  | 2.3  | –  | –

### Before deadline[edit]

Polling firm  | Fieldwork date  | Agnieszka Sokolowska  | Arnar Þór Jónsson  | Axel Pétur Axelsson  | Ásdís Rán Gunnarsdóttir  | Ástþór Magnússon  | Baldur Þórhallsson  | Guðmundur Felix Grétarsson  | Halla Hrund Logadóttir  | Halla Tómasdóttir  | Helga Þórisdóttir  | Jón Gnarr  | Katrín Jakobsdóttir  | Tómas Logi Hallgrímsson  | Sigríður Hrund Pétursdóttir  | Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir  | Others  | Don't know/Undecided

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Maskína | 22–26 Apr 2024  | –  | 3.3  | –  | 1.5  | 0.5  | 21.2  | 0.5  | 26.2 | 4.1  | 0.2  | 15.2  | 25.4  | –  | –  | 1.2  | 0.1  | –
Gallup | 17–22 Apr 2024  | –  | 3  | –  | –  | –  | 28  | –  | 16  | 4  | –  | 15  | 31 | –  | –  | 1  | 1  | –
Prósent | 16–21 Apr 2024  | –  | 2.8  | –  | 1.1  | 1.1  | 27.2 | 0.9  | 18.0  | 5.8  | 0.1  | 17.2  | 23.8  | –  | –  | 2.1  | –  | –
Maskína | 12–16 Apr 2024  | –  | 3.8  | –  | 1.3  | 0.9  | 24.0  | 0.3  | 10.5  | 6.7  | –  | 18.9  | 31.4 | –  | 0.1  | 1.8  | 0.2  | –
Prósent | 9–14 Apr 2024  | –  | 2.9  | –  | 0.8  | 0.4  | 25.8 | 0.4  | 10.6  | 4.3  | 0.4  | 16.8  | 22.1  | –  | 0.1  | 2.9  | –  | 10.0
Gallup | 5–11 Apr 2024  | –  | 4  | –  | 2  | 1  | 26  | –  | 4  | 7  | –  | 18  | 30 | –  | –  | 2  | 6  | –
Maskína | 5–8 Apr 2024  | –  | 3.2  | –  | –  | 0.6  | 26.7  | 0.2  | 5.7  | 7.3  | 0.4  | 19.6  | 32.9 | –  | 0.5  | 1.9  | 1.0  | –
Prósent | 20–27 Mar 2024  | 1  | 5  | –  | 4  | 2  | 37 | –  | –  | 15  | –  | –  | –  | –  | 1  | –  | 2  | 34
Prósent | 16–24 Jan 2024  | –  | 6  | 1  | –  | 3  | –  | –  | –  | –  | –  | –  | –  | 5  | 8  | –  | –  | 77

Potential candidates

Polling firm  | Date

|

Arnar Þór Jónsson  | Baldur Þórhallsson  | Guðni Th. Jóhannesson  | Halla Hrund Logadóttir  | Halla Tómasdóttir  | Helga Erla Þórisdóttir  | Jón Gnarr  | Katrín Jakobsdóttir  | Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson  | Others/Undecided
Prósent | 28 Mar–3 Apr 2024  | 4  | 27  | –  | 4  | 10  | 1  | 17  | 17  | –  | 19
Gallup | Jan 2024  | 4  | –  | 14  | –  | 6  | –  | –  | 9  | 7  | 60

## Notes[edit]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "President Will Not Seek Re-election". Iceland Review. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
2. ^ "Icelandic president will not stand for re-election". Yahoo News. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
3. ^ "Iceland's president re-elected with 92 percent of the vote". France 24. Agence France-Presse. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
4. ^ Gunnhildur Kjerúlf Birgisdóttir (1 January 2024). "Guðni býður sig ekki fram á ný". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
5. ^ "Republic of Iceland: Election for Icelandic Presidency". IFES Election Guide.
6. ^ "Constitution". Government Offices. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
7. ^ "Arnar Þór býður sig fram til forseta". RÚV (in Icelandic). 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
8. ^ Jón Þór Stefánsson (17 March 2024). "Ísdrottningin safnar undirskriftum til að komast á Bessastaði". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 March 2024.
9. ^ Ástþór Magnússon (2 November 2023). "Styður héraðsdómur þjóðarmorð?". Vísir.is. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
10. ^ "Ástþór Magnússon býður sig fram á ný". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
11. ^ Alexander Kristjánsson (20 March 2024). "Baldur Þórhallsson býður sig fram til forseta". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 21 March 2024.
12. ^ Sólrún Dögg Jósefsdóttir (6 April 2024). "Lifði af sjóslys og tekur nú forsetaslaginn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 6 April 2024.
13. ^ Árni Sæberg (7 April 2024). "Halla Hrund býður sig fram". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
14. ^ Ragnar Jón Hrólfsson (17 March 2024). "Halla Tómasdóttir býður sig fram til forseta". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 17 March 2024.
15. ^ Andri Yrkill Valsson (27 March 2023). "Helga Þórisdóttir býður sig fram til forseta". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
16. ^ "Jón Gnarr ætlar á Bessastaði" (in Icelandic).
17. ^ "Katrín announces her candidacy for presidency". RÚV. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
18. ^ "Iceland prime minister resigns to run for president". Reuters. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
19. ^ Jakob Bjarnar Grétarsson (3 April 2024). "Steinunn Ólína komin á lista yfir forsetaefni". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
20. ^ Jakob Bjarnar (27 March 2023). "Steinunn Ólína hálfu skrefi frá því að bjóða sig fram". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
21. ^ Stefánsson, Jón Þór (5 February 2024). "Viktor Traustason verður í framboði - Vísir". visir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
22. ^ Magnús Jochum Pálsson (1 March 2024). "Nýr forsetaframbjóðandi stígur fram". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 March 2024.
23. ^ "Snæfellsjökul fyrir forseta | president". Kjósum jökul. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
24. ^ Jakob Bjarnar (2 January 2024). "Axel Pétur og Dóri DNA mættir til leiks sem forsetaframbjóðendur". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 January 2024.
25. ^ Magnús Jochum Pálsson (11 April 2024). "Guðbergur býður sig fram og hyggst nýta embættið betur". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
26. ^ Árni Sæberg (3 April 2024). "Guðmundur Felix býður fram krafta sína". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
27. ^ Magnús Jochum Pálsson (3 March 2024). "Forsetaframbjóðendur skjóta upp kollinum eins og gorkúlur á haug". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 March 2024.
28. ^ Daðason, Kolbeinn Tumi (29 April 2024). "Bein útsending: Hvaða forsetaframboð eru gild? - Vísir". visir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
29. ^ Vésteinn Örn Pétursson (28 March 2024). "Hætt við framboð og vonast eftir þjóðhollum og guðræknum forseta". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
30. ^ "Sigríður Hrund hætt við framboð" (in Icelandic). 26 April 2024.
31. ^ Magnús Jochum Pálsson (12 January 2024). "Tómas Logi býður sig fram til forseta". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 12 January 2024.
32. ^ Árni Sæberg (20 March 2024). "Dregur framboðið til baka vegna fárra undirskrifta". Vísir.is. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
33. ^ Viðar Guðjónsson (27 February 2024). "Alma Möller: "Íhuga að íhuga forsetaframboð"". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 February 2024.
34. ^ Atli Ísleifsson (8 April 2024). "Framboðshugleiðingar fóru ekkert lengra en að "íhuga að íhuga"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
35. ^ a b c d e "Samkvæmisleikurinn hafinn". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
36. ^ Kristjana Arnarsdóttir (2 February 2024). "Björgvin Páll ætlar ekki í forsetaframboð að sinni". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 February 2024.
37. ^ "Karolinskas chef överväger att ställa upp i Islands presidentval: "Positivt förvånad"". DN.se (in Swedish). 3 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
38. ^ "Björn hvorki á leið heim né á Bessastaði". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
39. ^ "Dagur útilokar ekki framboð til Alþingis". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
40. ^ Jón Þór Stefánsson (8 December 2023). "Ætlar ekki að bjóða sig fram aftur". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
41. ^ "Guðni gefur ekki kost á sér". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 1 January 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
42. ^ Erla Hlynsdóttir (2 January 2024). "Gylfi Þór á leið undir feldinn". Heimildin (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 April 2024.
43. ^ Atli Ísleifsson (8 April 2024). "Kröftum mínum betur varið þar, að minnsta kosti að sinni". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 April 2024.
44. ^ "Mun ekki gefa kost á sér". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 6 April 2024.
45. ^ Alexander Kristjánsson (14 March 2024). "Ólafur Jóhann býður sig ekki fram til forseta". Vísir (in Icelandic).
46. ^ Kolbeinn Tumi Daðason (18 December 2023). "Veltir framboði til forseta fyrir sér". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 April 2024.
47. ^ Atli Ísleifsson (8 April 2024). "Guðni hafi "skemmt" hugmyndir um framboð". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 April 2024.
48. ^ Viðar Guðjónsson (9 March 2024). "Róbert Spanó tjáir sig um forsetaframboð". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
49. ^ Viðar Guðjónsson (28 February 2024). ""Enginn hefur komið að máli við mig"". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 February 2024.
50. ^ Viðar Guðjónsson (28 February 2024). ""Held að þetta djobb henti mér ekki"". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 February 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Elections and referendums in Iceland

Parliamentary elections|

* 1844
* 1852
* 1858
* 1864
* 1869
* 1874
* 1880
* 1886
* 1892
* 1894
* 1900
* 1902
* 1903
* 1908
* 1911
* 1914
* 1916 (Aug)
* 1916 (Oct)
* 1919
* 1922
* 1923
* 1926
* 1927
* 1930
* 1931
* 1933
* 1934
* 1937
* 1942 (Jul)
* 1942 (Oct)
* 1946
* 1949
* 1953
* 1956
* 1959 (Jun)
* 1959 (Oct)
* 1963
* 1967
* 1971
* 1974
* 1978
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2009
* 2013
* 2016
* 2017
* 2021
* Next

Presidential elections|

* 1944
* 1945
* 1949
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Municipal elections|

* 1930
* 1934
* 1938
* 1942
* 1946
* 1950
* 1954
* 1958
* 1962
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Referendums|

* 1908
* 1916
* 1918
* 1933
* 1944
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012

Constitutional Assembly|

* 2010

This Icelandic elections-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template