Words by

Jóhannes Bjarkason

Photo by

Althingi.is

Former minister of judicial affairs Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir is the new leader of the Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn). She was elected during the party’s 45th national convention which took place between February 28-March 2.

Along with Guðrún, party MP Jens Garðar Helgason was voted as its deputy leader, and Party MP Vilhjálmur Árnason was elected secretary.

Competing against Guðrún for the leadership seat was former minister Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, who lost by 19 votes.

Guðrún is the party’s 10th chair and the first woman in the office. She succeeds former minister Bjarni Benediktsson, who stepped down as chairman and MP earlier this year. Bjarni had served for 16 years as chair of the Independence Party.