Icelandic President Announces Candidacy for Re-Election

Guðni Th. Jóhannesson revealed in his New Year’s address to the nation that he will stand for re-election as president this summer, for a second four-year term. If one or more people choose to stand against him, an election will take place on 27th June.

It is unusual for presidential candidates to go public with more than two months’ notice, though Guðni is not the first sitting president to announce his intention in the traditional New Year’s address. 

At the last election, Guðni waited until 5th May 2016 to announce his candidacy. At that time, incumbent Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson had yet to say whether he would stand for a sixth time. He eventually decided not to stand.

All Presidents of the Republic of Iceland to date have decided to stand for more than one term, and none has yet failed to secure re-election.