Iceland's minister for children, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, has resigned following revelations of a relationship she had with a teenager over 30 years ago, raising concerns over ethical conduct in her position.
Child Welfare Minister in Iceland Resigns Over Past Relationship Scandal
Child Welfare Minister in Iceland Resigns Over Past Relationship Scandal
Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir steps down after admitting to past relationship with a minor.
Iceland's Minister for Children, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, announced her resignation on Thursday after disclosing her past involvement with a teenager more than three decades ago. Thórsdóttir, who is now 58, admitted in an interview that she began a relationship with the boy when he was just 15 years old, while she was a 22-year-old counsellor at a religious group he attended. She gave birth to their child when he was 16 and she was 23.
During a media interview, Thórsdóttir expressed that she would handle the situation differently today, stating, "It's been 36 years, a lot of things change in that time." Her admission prompted Iceland's Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, to deem the situation a "serious matter," reinforcing her respect for the personal nature of the issue while revealing little beyond what the public already knew.
The details came to light following a report by the Icelandic news agency RUV, where Thórsdóttir disclosed her relationship with the father of her child, identified as Eirík Ásmundsson. While Ásmundsson attended the child's birth and lived with them for the first year, their relationship reportedly veered into secrecy when Thórsdóttir began a relationship with her current husband. Documents were uncovered indicating that Ásmundsson had sought access to his child but was met with refusal, while Thórsdóttir continued to receive child support payments from him for 18 years.
Despite resigning from her ministerial position, Thórsdóttir stated that she has no intention of leaving parliament. The case raises ethical questions regarding relationships in positions of authority, especially given Iceland's laws on age of consent and rules regarding relationships between mentors and their protégés.
During a media interview, Thórsdóttir expressed that she would handle the situation differently today, stating, "It's been 36 years, a lot of things change in that time." Her admission prompted Iceland's Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, to deem the situation a "serious matter," reinforcing her respect for the personal nature of the issue while revealing little beyond what the public already knew.
The details came to light following a report by the Icelandic news agency RUV, where Thórsdóttir disclosed her relationship with the father of her child, identified as Eirík Ásmundsson. While Ásmundsson attended the child's birth and lived with them for the first year, their relationship reportedly veered into secrecy when Thórsdóttir began a relationship with her current husband. Documents were uncovered indicating that Ásmundsson had sought access to his child but was met with refusal, while Thórsdóttir continued to receive child support payments from him for 18 years.
Despite resigning from her ministerial position, Thórsdóttir stated that she has no intention of leaving parliament. The case raises ethical questions regarding relationships in positions of authority, especially given Iceland's laws on age of consent and rules regarding relationships between mentors and their protégés.
