Which presidential candidates intend to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections?
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The number of presidential candidates this spring was quite large, as most people no doubt remember.
More than four months after fighting for the post of President of Iceland, four of the former candidates have announced that they are seeking a place on the list of political parties in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Halla Hrund Logadóttir announced on Friday that she intends to lead the Progressive Party in Reykjavik South constituency. Jón Gnarr has also signed up for the Liberal Reform Party and is seeking the leadership of the party. Arnar Þór Jónsson has founded his own party, the Democratic Party, and intends to lead it in the South West constituency.
The focus of the Pirate Party is best suited to Traustason
Viktor Traustason takes part in the Pirate Party”s primary election in the North Eastern constituency and says that he himself has registered for the party. No parties contacted him after the presidential elections.
“Considering the policy issues that I proposed in the presidential election, I felt that the Pirate Party were the political organization that best aligned with those priorities,” he says.
“I think you just hope to get as many votes as possible, but if not, it’s no big deal.”
No one asked Jakobsdóttir and Þorsteinsdóttir and Ástvaldsson is not running
In a written response to an inquiry by mbl.is, Katrín Jakobsdóttir says that no one has contacted her about a possible candidacy.
Regarding the possible availability, Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir says there has been no demand for her availability.
Ástþór Magnússon also says that he has not thought about running for office as he does not foresee being able to succeed in the peace process there. He said he hopes that President Halla Tómasdóttir has the courage to refuse to sign a law that stipulates the purchase of weapons.
Not just concerned with Personal Data Security
When asked, Helga Þórisdóttir says that she has had some informal conversations about a possible candidacy, but has not thought about anything other than her CEO job for Personal Data Security for the time being, as she has enough to do. However, she is very interested in politics.
So you only care about Personal Data Security?
“Well, obviously not only, I mean I ran for president and I’ve been doing my job for quite a while but at the same time my mind was very serious about that office.”
Asked if she would be ready to run for office if an invitation from the right party came, Þórarinsdóttir says that she has not done so, but that she is, however, very interested in politics.
Gunnarsdóttir could be drawn into a party
Ásdís Rán Gunnarsdóttir was abroad when a journalist caught up with her but said she was on her way to Iceland.
Regarding the possible availability, she said that the events of the last few days have been so fast that she has not had the opportunity to look into the matter yet. She does not rule out candidacy, but says that no parties have been in contact with her so far.
“I think maybe I missed this opportunity,” she says.
“Unless someone tries to drag me into some party,” she adds.
So far, no parties have approached her, but many have asked her if she intends to run. When asked, she says she doesn’t care about one party more than another, as there are many viable parties available.
Jóhannsson might consider running alone
Eiríkur Ingi Jóhannsson says that he has not made a decision about his candidacy, since the elections are to be held shortly. However, he has certainly thought about it and does not rule it out.
“I allowed himself to run for president because I want to do something for the nation. Naturally, nothing came of it, and then you have to find something that comes close to it that can have an effect. Whether it will be parliamentary or something else will just have to be seen.”
Asked if any parties have come into contact with him, he says he does not want to reveal it.
He even said that he is looking into possibly running as a non-partisan member of parliament. Electoral law does not allow it, but he could well consider having it tried in court or at the table of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
Baldur Þórhallsson could not be reached during the processing of this report.