Iceland’s serving President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson looks set for a record fifth term in office, partial results from the country’s election suggest. With 20% of the votes counted, Mr Grimsson secured more than 50% support. Main challenger Thora Arnorsdottir, a journalist who gave birth during the campaign, acknowledged defeat.
The workers at the Marel factory are filling up their lunch trays with salads, sausages and pickled fish when the presidential candidate arrives, spouse and new baby in tow. The canteen has seen several such visits from some of the six hopefuls in the running for Iceland’s election on Sunday. Today’s guest is the frontrunner to unseat President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, 69, who has been in office for a record 16 years. Aged 37, and with a successful career as a broadcast journalist, Thora Arnorsdottir entered the race in March. She was then seven months pregnant. But she has led the polls ever since, even after taking weeks out of campaigning to give birth to her third child with partner Svavar Halldorsson, who now carries the baby at the back of the Marel canteen.