Big leadership changes will take place in the Reykjavík capital area in Iceland’s upcoming municipal elections. RÚV reports that four out of the six current mayors in the region will not be running. Municipal elections will be held across the country on May 14, 2022, and local and municipal council members in Iceland are now making up their minds on whether or not to run for another term. Both citizens of Iceland, as well as residents of Iceland who have lived in the country for five years or longer, can vote in municipal elections.
In the capital area, the mayors of Kópavogur (Ármann Kr. Ólafsson), Setjarnarnes (Ásgerður Halldórsdóttir), Garðabær (Gunnar Einarsson), and Mosfellsbær (Haraldur Sveinsson), have all announced that they will not be running in the May election. All four have been mayor in their respective municipality for over a decade, signalling a significant change of leadership for the region. Rekjavík Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson announced earlier this month that he would be running for reelection, as will Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, current mayor of Hafnarfjörður.
Foreign residents of Iceland who do not hold Icelandic citizenship but have lived in the country for five years or longer have the right to vote in municipal elections. Most information on voting requirements will be available as elections approach.
