Icelandic Minister of Education Illugi Gunnarsson has decided not to run for parliament in coming elections in October. He made the announcement on his Facebook page today.
There, he states he has made the decision after careful consideration. He has been actively involved in politics since the year 2000 and has come to the conclusion that 16 years is enough, at least for the time being.
Illugi, who is a member of the Independence Party, was first elected to Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, in 2007. He was reelected in 2009, but took a leave of absence in April of 2010 during an investigation of the operation of Glitnir bank funds during the years preceding the banking collapse in 2008, but, according to Vísir, Illugi was on the board of directors of on of the bank’s investment funds, Fund 9.
Illugi has served as minister of education since 2013, but his term has not been without controversy. About a year ago, his link to the company Orka Energy became the subject of debate. Illugi had worked for the company while on a leave of absence from parliament, and it was criticized that officials from the company took part in the program of Illugi’s official visit to China in March of last year.
In April last year, Illugi revealed that he was renting a house from Haukur Harðarson, chairman of the board of Orka Energy, but he flatly denied having given Orka Energy any preferential treatment as minister.
In his Faebook statement today, Illlugi states he will miss politics, but looks forward to new endeavors, whichever they may be.
