Voters in Iceland are heading to the polls on Saturday to elect a new president from a field of 12 candidates, including a former prime minister. The current president, Gudni Th. Johannesson, opted not to seek reelection for the largely ceremonial role, paving the way for the seventh president of Iceland to be chosen.
One of the prominent contenders in the race is Katrin Jakobsdottir, who served as prime minister in 2017 as part of a coalition government formed by three parties. The coalition aimed to steer Iceland away from a series of crises that led to three consecutive elections. Earlier this year, Jakobsdottir stepped down as prime minister to run for the presidency.
Iceland, a picturesque island nation with a population of approximately 380,000 people situated just south of the Arctic Circle, has been recognized as the world's most gender-equal country for 14 consecutive years by the World Economic Forum. This ranking is based on various factors such as pay equity, access to education, and quality healthcare.
Polling stations across Iceland opened at 9 a.m. (0900 GMT) and are scheduled to close at 10 p.m. (2200 GMT) on Saturday. The election results are anticipated to be announced on Sunday, revealing the next individual who will assume the presidency and lead the nation forward.
