Iceland is to hold parliamentary elections six months early after the Panama Papers scandal forced the country's prime minister to resign earlier this year. 

Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson, the man who replaced Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson in the hot seat last April, said that elections would likely be held on 29 October. 

Guðni Jóhannesson won the presidential election two months ago. Photo: ReutersGuðni Jóhannesson won the presidential election two months ago. Photo: Reuters

“Judging by how matters progressed in parliament this spring and summer, we expect that that will happen,” the Guardian reported Johannsson as saying. 

Former PM Gunnlaugsson became the first major casualty of the Panama Papers leak after mass protests spilled onto Iceland's streets within hours of allegations that his family had hidden millions in offshore accounts. 

Gunnlaugsson soon stepped aside, but his government remained in place. 

Iceland's anti-establishment sentiment was reflected in a presidential vote held last June, which was won by political newcomer and history professor Guðni Jóhannesson. Jóhannesson ran on a non-partisan ticket, having only decided to run for the presidency after the Panama Papers leak. 

 

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.