In a presidential election that is expected to be close between three women, including former prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, Iceland voters head to the polls on Saturday.
In the parliamentary republic of Iceland, the president serves mainly as a symbol of national cohesion and the constitution.
Nonetheless, he or she is able to veto legislation or put it to a vote.
Earlier this year, the wildly popular Gudni Johannesson, who has been in the position since 2016 and was re-elected in 2020 with an overwhelming 92 percent of the vote, declared he will not run for office again.
In an election campaign where candidates usually run as independents with no party affiliation, no single core issue has dominated the campaign.
The leading contenders in the field of 13 include the former prime minister, a businesswoman, a comedian, an Arctic and energy specialist, and a professor of political science.
Any citizen can run for office in this 380,000-person nation if they garner 1,500 signatures.
Jakobsdottir had to fight off accusations that she is too political for the position. She led a left-right coalition government from 2017 until April, when she resigned to pursue a presidential candidacy.
“I actually think that knowing the political environment doesn’t make you less qualified to handle the job of president,” the 48-year-old said Thursday during a televised debate, when asked if her political career would be a hindrance for her as president.
“On the contrary… I believe that I can rise above all party politics,” she said.
The contenders sparred on a variety of issues during the televised discussion, including the use of the presidential veto authority, NATO membership, arms sales to Ukraine, and the potential sale of Iceland’s national power company.
