Iceland's Children's Minister Resigns Over Past Relationship Controversy

LONDON (AP) — In a significant political development, Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir accepted the resignation of Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, the country’s children's minister, on Sunday. The resignation follows the revelation of a historical relationship involving Thórsdóttir and a teenager over 30 years ago.

Thórsdóttir, who served as children’s minister, stepped down after national broadcaster RUV reported that she had given birth to a child 35 years ago, when she was 23. The child’s father was only 16 at the time. RUV disclosed that their relationship had begun after they met at a church youth group when the boy was just 15 years old.

In Iceland, the age of sexual consent is 15; however, laws prohibit adults from engaging in sexual relationships with minors whom they teach, employ, or mentor. Thórsdóttir acknowledged the relationship in a public statement, clarifying that while she was a member of the church group, she did not hold a leadership position. She stated, “Relationships between people of that age were not at all uncommon, even if they were not desirable,” and mentioned that the relationship lasted only a few weeks.

According to RUV's report, the father actively sought access to their son through governmental and church channels but was only granted occasional visits. He also provided child support for 18 years, although Thórsdóttir indicated that he made little effort to maintain a relationship with their child, who is now an adult.

Thórsdóttir officially resigned during a meeting of the State Council, which included government ministers and President Tómasdóttir. Although she has stepped down from her ministerial role, she will continue to serve as a lawmaker for the People’s Party, which is part of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir of the Social Democratic Alliance.

Iceland, a volcanic island nation located just below the Arctic Circle, has a population of less than 400,000. The country's parliament, established in 930 by Viking settlers, is considered one of the oldest in the world.