Journalist Thora Arnorsdottir is the favourite in the Icelandic Presidential Elections

29^th May 2012

Icelandic tradition holds that no competitor stands against the outgoing President of the Republic when the latter is seeking a further mandate. On 30th June, outgoing President Olafur Grimsson will be up against 7 other candidates. In Iceland the President's role is essentially honorific. The Head of State is, however, a symbol of national unity and exercises moral authority amongst his fellow citizens. The presidential mandate lasts for 4 years and there is no limit set on the number of mandates. According to the latest opinion poll carried out by the Social Sciences Institute at the University of Iceland and published on 21st May, journalist Thora Arnorsdottir is set to come out on top of the presidential elections on 30th June, with 46.2% of the vote, ahead of the outgoing Head of State who will take 37.8% of the vote. The gap is currently tending to narrow between the two main candidates.

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