Numerous public figures have been openly speculating whether or not they will run for president this year – some more seriously than others – while Icelanders appear to have a wide range of opinions on what makes presidential material.
As reported current president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson – while not directly stating that he would not run for office again – did insinuate that he would leave office, perhaps trying to feel out how much support he has, or who he might be running against.
Almost immediately, numerous public figures have told the press that they were considering running for office, and a recent reader’s poll at DV has shown a fairly wide selection of possible candidates that Icelanders would like to see run.
Vísir reports on two such possible candidates. One of them is Jón Ólafsson, the director of bottled water company Icelandic Glacial, who in 2010 donated 233 tonnes of water to earthquake-stricken Haiti. He later revealed that he was only joking about a possible candidacy.
Reykjavík mayor Jón Gnarr told radio station Rás 2 that he is also considering a presidential bid. No word yet on whether or not he was joking, too.
A reader’s poll conducted by DV showed former Minister of Justice Ragna Árnadóttir the preferred favourite to run for president this year. Other reader choices included Davíð Oddsson, Jón Gnarr, and actress Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir.
As yet, no one has stepped forward to say they will definitely run for the office, but speculations still run high.
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