Handsome Author Steps Forward As Presidential Candidate

Best-selling author, former national team footballer and noted good guy Þorgrímur Þráinsson has officially announced his intention to run for the Icelandic presidency next year.

Þorgrímur told Vísir today that there is a “95% chance” that he will run. Elections are to be held late June next year. He further emphasised that his candidacy will go forward whether the current president, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, runs or not.

Þorgrímur has opened a Facebook page on his candidacy, wherein he makes his intentions clearer. In a statement on the page, he announced that he believed the time had come to “step out of my frame of silence. Because I have decided to run for President of Iceland in 2016. On this page, I will publish a detailed article after 24 hours on my candidacy. Like this page to follow my candidacy. Presidential greetings, Þorgrímur Þráinsson, author.”

Aside from being handsome, Þorgrímur has a reputation for being a super nice guy, always willing to lend a hand or word of advice. In light of his announcement, local website Nútíminn published three accounts of the candidate’s reportedly many good deeds, detailing incidents like him offering a local commuter a parking slip (with 90 minutes left!), and one where he appeared out of the blue at a café to fix a local media personality’s wonky table.

As such, Þorgrímur is the first official candidate to run from president next year.

Ólafur Ragnar has yet to formally announce if he will run again. He has already served five terms, and will have been in office for 20 years when elections are held again.