Lucrezia Ciotti La minister Icelandic for Children, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, gave the resignation after revealing an episode of his past dating back more than 30 years. The statement shocks the country.
Minister of Children resigns over shocking incident dating back 30 years
Iceland's Minister of Children, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, has resigned after admitting that she had a son with un minor over 30 years ago.
The revelation, made in an interview, caused a stir. Thórsdottir said he started the report at age 22, while working as a counselor at a religious group attended by the boy, who was 15 at the time. A year later, their son was born.
“36 years have passed, many things change in this time and certainly Today I would approach the issue differently", declared the minister, who is now 58 years old.
Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir immediately reacted by calling the matter “serious,” although she clarified that she did not know the details beyond what emerged in the interview. According to local press, Frostadottir learned of the situation only the evening before her resignation and immediately summoned Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, who decided to leave the ministerial post. Despite resigning from the government, the minister has stated that she wants to remain in Parliament.
The story has now emerged because a relative of the young man contacted the prime minister's office twice to report it.
Icelandic Minister's Resignation: Father-Son Relationships
According to Icelandic media, the father of the child, Eirik Ásmundsson, had allegedly tried to get in touch with his son in the past, but the minister would have hindered him, while continuing to receive child support payments for several years.
The case has reopened the debate on Icelandic law regarding relations with minors. Although the age of consent in Iceland is set at 15, the law prohibits relations with persons under 18 if the adult is in a position of authority or provides financial support. In such cases, the law provides for a penalty of up to three years in prison.