Iceland's Minister Resigns Over Past Relationship with Teenager

Thórsdóttir, who had a child with the teenager when she was 23, acknowledges her actions were seen differently in today's context, prompting her resignation despite a resolute intent to remain in parliament.

In a shocking turn of events, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, Iceland’s Minister for Children, formally resigned on Thursday, following her admission about a relationship with a teenager dating back over 30 years. Speaking in a candid media interview, Thórsdóttir, now 58, disclosed that she began the relationship when the boy was just 15 and she was a 22-year-old counselor at a religious group, Trú og líf (Religion and Life), which he attended. The couple welcomed a child when he turned 16 and she was 23.

Reflecting on the passage of time, Thórsdóttir said, "It's been 36 years, and a lot of things change in that time. I would definitely have dealt with these issues differently today."

The situation garnered attention when Iceland's Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, called it "a serious matter," although she expressed that her knowledge of the situation was limited. She only received confirmation about the incident on the night the story broke. Following a meeting with Thórsdóttir, the minister submitted her resignation.

The relationship was initially kept private, but surfaced in the media after a relative of the boy, identified as Eirík Ásmundsson, attempted to reach out to the prime minister. Documents revealed that Ásmundsson had formally sought access to his son and alleged that Thórsdóttir had denied his requests, all while requesting child support payments that he fulfilled for 18 years.

While Iceland’s age of consent is 15, Thórsdóttir's position as a mentor raised legal questions, as it is illegal to engage in sexual relations with someone under 18 if they are financially dependent on you. The ramifications of her past have sparked widespread discourse, pushing Thórsdóttir to express disappointment over the damage to her reputation, acknowledging how challenging it can be to convey the right narrative in contemporary media landscapes.

Despite her resignation from the ministerial role, Thórsdóttir has indicated that she has no intentions of stepping down from her position in parliament.