In a shocking turn of events, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, Iceland's minister for children, has announced her resignation after revealing that she had a child with a teenager over 30 years ago.
Iceland’s Children’s Minister Resigns Over Controversial Past Relationship
Iceland’s Children’s Minister Resigns Over Controversial Past Relationship
Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir's 30-year-old admission sparks political turmoil in Iceland.
In an interview with Icelandic media, she disclosed that her relationship with the boy began when he was just 15 years old, while she was a 22-year-old counselor at a religious organization he was involved in. Thórsdóttir became pregnant and gave birth to their son when he was 16 and she was 23. "It’s been 36 years, a lot of things change in that time and I would definitely have dealt with these issues differently today," the 58-year-old stated.
The incident has drawn the attention of Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, who labeled the matter as "serious," yet acknowledged her limited knowledge of the situation. The Prime Minister was informed about the relationship after a family member of the boy contacted her, aiming to bring attention to the affair involving a government official.
In her resignation, Thórsdóttir mentioned she was upset by the public revelation of her past but understood the implications surrounding it. Despite the controversy, she confirmed that she has no intentions of leaving her position in parliament.
The details of this affair are generating discussions about relationships between adults and minors, especially given Iceland's laws surrounding age of consent. Although the legal age is 15, it prohibits sexual conduct between teachers or mentors and individuals under 18 if they hold a position of financial influence or authority over them. With Thórsdóttir stepping down, the political landscape in Iceland may face further scrutiny over the role and responsibilities of its public officials when it comes to past conduct.
The incident has drawn the attention of Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, who labeled the matter as "serious," yet acknowledged her limited knowledge of the situation. The Prime Minister was informed about the relationship after a family member of the boy contacted her, aiming to bring attention to the affair involving a government official.
In her resignation, Thórsdóttir mentioned she was upset by the public revelation of her past but understood the implications surrounding it. Despite the controversy, she confirmed that she has no intentions of leaving her position in parliament.
The details of this affair are generating discussions about relationships between adults and minors, especially given Iceland's laws surrounding age of consent. Although the legal age is 15, it prohibits sexual conduct between teachers or mentors and individuals under 18 if they hold a position of financial influence or authority over them. With Thórsdóttir stepping down, the political landscape in Iceland may face further scrutiny over the role and responsibilities of its public officials when it comes to past conduct.
