Some background is needed. The position of president is best defined as a paradox. The role was created at the same time that the country had fought for and gained its independence from Denmark in 1944. Perhaps typically, for a country fond…

Ástþór Magnússon is mounting his third campaign for President now. He first appeared in 1996 when he ran and secured 2.8% of the vote. In 2000 he ran again but failed to secure the 1,500 nominations necessary to mount a legitimate campaign,…

Baldur started his career as a wireless operator on board a fishing boat, and moved on to become an air traffic controller at Reykjavík city airport. Meanwhile, he also set up Iceland´s first security firm, Varði. In the past years he has…

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the current head of State, elected to the office in 1996 with 40.6% of the vote. His second term was uncontested in 2000. But how would he define his role? “There are many roles. The formation of government,…

Two years ago and newly arrived in Iceland, 101 Reykjavik failed to give me the fuel for my romanticised notions of the country. I put the book to one side after reading a few chapters, but over time I recognised that it…

EU or not EU. That is the question. Or, at least, it should be. For some reason, it is barely debated among politicians, even though poll after poll shows that roughly half the nation, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the time…

Grapevine does not know what to expect as the phone is picked up. Will Master answer in verse or prose, quoting pearls of oriental wisdom, the Sagas or the Bible, or will he answer cryptically, leaving Grapevine to discover the meaning itself?…

The ferry sailed past the summit, and we could see seagulls nesting on the cliffs below the underground hangars used by the US Airforce, probably soon to become vacant. The shore receded in the distance but there was, as yet, no sign…

These days, it seems, no one outside of North America and the Middle East takes religion seriously. So perhaps it was inevitable that these areas would come into conflict. Icelanders rarely go to church outside of weddings and funerals. For the last…

“Nato base, restricted access,” said the sign. As we had secured an invitation beforehand, we felt bold enough to drive on regardless. A soldier came running towards us, double time, M-16 at the ready but still, fortunately, pointing downwards. He informed us…