Icelandic Minister for Children Resigns Following Admission of Teenage Relationship

Iceland's Minister for Children, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, has announced her resignation after revealing that she had a child with a teenager over 30 years ago. Thórsdóttir, who is 58 years old, disclosed the details during a media interview, recounting how her relationship with the boy began when he was 15 and she was 22, working as a counselor at a religious organization.

In her interview, she stated that she gave birth to their child when the boy was 16 and she was 23. "It's been 36 years, a lot of things change in that time and I would definitely have dealt with these issues differently today," Thórsdóttir told Icelandic media.

Prime Minister Reacts to the News

Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir described the situation as "a serious matter." Although she acknowledged that she was unaware of the specifics until recently, she emphasized the personal nature of the issue, stating, "This is a very personal matter [and] out of respect for the person concerned, I will not comment on the substance." The Prime Minister confirmed that she only learned of the circumstances on Thursday evening, just before she summoned Thórsdóttir to her office, where the minister tendered her resignation.

Details of the Relationship and its Aftermath

The story was first reported by the Icelandic news agency RUV, which revealed that Thórsdóttir met the father of her child, Eirík Ásmundsson, while working at the religious group Trú og líf (Religion and Life). Ásmundsson reportedly joined the group due to challenges at home, leading to his relationship with Thórsdóttir.

According to RUV, the relationship was kept secret; however, Ásmundsson was present at the birth of their child and was involved during the child’s first year. The situation reportedly changed when Thórsdóttir met her current husband. Documents obtained by RUV show that Ásmundsson sought access to his son through the justice ministry, but Thórsdóttir denied these requests while receiving child support payments from him for the next 18 years.

A relative of Ásmundsson attempted to contact Prime Minister Frostadóttir twice about the minister's past relationship, prompting further investigation that ultimately led to Thórsdóttir's resignation. During her interview with RUV, Thórsdóttir expressed her frustration regarding the media attention, saying, "I understand... what it looks like," emphasizing the difficulty in conveying the truth in such a public forum.

Legal Context

In Iceland, the age of consent is 15, but there are legal restrictions on relationships between individuals in positions of authority and minors. Specifically, those who are teachers, mentors, or in positions of financial dependency over someone under 18 face legal repercussions. The maximum penalty for violating these laws is three years in prison.

Despite her resignation from the ministerial position, Thórsdóttir confirmed that she does not plan to step down from her role in parliament.