Davíd Oddsson, one of the most powerful men in Icelandic politics for the last 22 years, steps down from the current government at 2 PM today. Davíd has been appointed the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Icelandic Central Bank.
Geir H. Haarde, minister of finance, becomes foreign minister, Árni M. Mathiesen, minister of fisheries, becomes minister of finance and a new minister, Einar Kristinn Gudfinnsson will take over as minister of finance. Ásta Möller takes Davíd’s seat in Parliament.
Davíd was Iceland’s longest-serving prime minister and held the job from 1991 until 2004, when he resigned in a pre-arranged agreement between the ruling coalition of the Independence and Progressive Parties. In 2004, then-foreign minister Halldór Ásgrímsson stepped into the prime minister’s job.
Davíd has been a dominant figure in politics. Davíd’s departure from the current government marks the end of his career in politics and the beginning of a new era in Icelandic politics.
