Birgir Ármannsson announces decision not to seek re-election in Alþingi elections in Iceland

Birgir Ármannsson, the President of the Alþingi, has announced that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming parliamentary elections. He has been a member of the parliament since 2003 and was offered the third position on the Independence Party’s list in the South Reykjavík constituency. Birgir describes his decision as personal and one he has contemplated for some time, despite receiving support from both the party’s nomination committee and colleagues to continue in his role.

Recent polls show the Independence Party with support ranging from 13% to 16%, indicating that the party faces challenges in retaining all its seats in the city. Birgir, who has served as the President of the Alþingi for the past three years, expressed his sense of timing stating, “This is a good time to take a breather and take on other projects.” He has yet to decide what his future endeavors will be, though he is confident that something exciting lies ahead.

The upcoming elections are poised to bring significant changes within the Independence Party, as several seasoned members, including Jón Gunnarsson and Ásmundur Friðriksson, will also be stepping down. There is a possibility that many party members could lose their seats if the election results align with current polling trends.

When asked if there is a generational shift occurring within the party, Birgir stated that he does not believe this is the case. He noted that while there will be refreshing changes, considerable experience will remain. Reflecting on his two-decade political career, he mentioned the formative years during the financial crisis and expressed gratitude for his time in parliament.