Minister of Commerce and Industry Jón Sigurdsson was elected chairman of the Progressive Party at a party congress this weekend. He replaces former Prime Minister Halldór Ásgrímsson who decided to step down earlier this year. This is reported in all the main media.
The Progressive Party makes up half of the government coalition in Iceland, with five cabinet ministers of 11. The Independence Party makes up the other half of the coalition. Jón Sigurdsson assumed the post of Minister of Commerce and Industry earlier this year, after a cabinet reshuffle that was prompted by the resignation of Prime Minister Ásgrímsson.
