Finnbjörn to step down as ASÍ president in October

Finnbjörn A. Hermannsson will not seek re-election as president of ASÍ, Iceland’s labour federation, at its congress next month, mbl.is reports. He said he had reached retirement age and believed it was appropriate to step aside and allow a new president to take over.

Finnbjörn became ASÍ president in spring 2023. He said the federation was doing well and that he was leaving satisfied after three and a half years in its leadership.

“What lies behind this? I have reached retirement age, and it is therefore natural to stop,” Finnbjörn said.

The ASÍ congress will be held from October 14 to 16, with the presidential election scheduled for October 16. Candidates can put themselves forward until the congress begins.

Finnbjörn said inflation and the country’s economic affairs remained the main issues facing Iceland.

“This is an eternal task that will never end,” he said, adding that inflation was currently troubling people and that further efforts were needed to bring it down. He said the same parties that had promised to reduce inflation in 2024 were still involved in discussions, but that different measures would now be needed.

Discussing cooperation within ASÍ, Finnbjörn said differing views were inevitable in a movement of its size because it represented groups with different interests. He said the new president’s most important task would be to work towards common ground among the diverse groups under ASÍ’s umbrella.

“The president naturally needs to have a good relationship with all groups. There are five national federations and several directly affiliated unions. The president must be able to speak to everyone and have the trust of everyone,” he said.

The president must also be able to negotiate with the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise and the government, Finnbjörn said, describing the role as one requiring extensive compromise and the ability to look ahead without closing doors.

Finnbjörn added that ASÍ did not align itself with party politics and had long aimed to work with whichever government was in power. The federation should support measures it considered positive, he said, while also speaking out against those it did not support.

Finnbjörn will remain ASÍ president until the election at the congress.