Iceland appoints Benediktsson as prime minister

Bjarni Benediktsson from the Independence Party is set to become Iceland’s prime minister, succeeding Katrin Jakobsdottir who announced her resignation last week to prepare for her potential election as the country’s next president. Presidential elections are scheduled for June 1st. Benediktsson, currently the foreign minister in a three-party coalition government, has previously served as prime minister in 2017 and also as finance minister in Jakobsdottir’s administration. He declared his new role during a press conference on Tuesday reported by Icelandic media RUV, following agreement meetings between coalition parties. Political scientist Olafur P. Hardarson noted Jakobsdottir’s departure to run for president as an unprecedented move in Icelandic politics. Iceland faces uncertainties, grappling with volcano eruptions leading to evacuations, high inflation, and increasing interest rates.