Yesterday Sigmundur Davíd Gunnlaugsson was elected the new chairman of the Progressive Party after a heated fight against Höskuldur Thór Thórhallsson, who, by mistake, was declared winner of the elections.
“This is great news, that a 33-year-old man can walk in from the street into a rooted political party and charm the congress and win,” Gunnlaugsson, who is a Reykjavík City councilmember for the Progressive Party, told Fréttabladid.
Former chairman of the Progressive Party, Gudni Ágústsson, resigned from politics late last year. Ágústsson said that by leaving he had called for the party’s grass root to take action and that it has now answered his call.
“Although the rookies have won, the old ones will leave this congress satisfied,” Ágústsson said. “I’m leaving optimistic.”
The misunderstanding that Thórhallsson had been elected chairman and not Gunnlaugsson lasted for a few minutes until it was corrected by the head of the election committee Haukur Ingibergsson. He resigned from his post as a result.
Click here to read more about Ágústsson resigning as Progressive Party chairman.
