Election results are in, and the historian who has led polls for weeks in a row is now Iceland’s new president.
While Guðni was the projected winner from the first round of ballot counting, RÚV reports that all told, 39.08% of ballots cast went to him, numbering 71,356 votes cast in his favour. As such, he is now the sixth President of Iceland.
Where other candidates are concerned, the real surprise of the evening was entrepreneur and lecturer Halla Tómasdóttir. Finishing with 27.9%, she had surged forward in support to a significant degree over the past few days alone, receiving almost twice as much support than polls had predicted. Trailing behind Halla was Andri Snær Magnason, with 14.3%, followed close behind by Davíð Oddsson, with 13.7%. No other candidates broke the double-digit mark.
The final count was of special significance to Guðni, as the last numbers did not come in until well past midnight, meaning that his victory was announced on the occasion of his birthday.
In his acceptance speech, Guðni said that the campaign had been stressful, especially when the first round of ballots had been counted. He said that he trusts he will have the continued support of the country, as important work awaits him, adding that he will devote himself to being the unifying force that Icelanders deserve.
Guðni officially assumes the presidency on August 1, when outgoing President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson will finish up 20 years in office.
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