Katrín Jakobsdóttir

In 2017, Katrín Jakobsdóttir formed an unusual coalition bringing together her Left-Green Movement, the centre-right Independence Party and the Progressive Party. Two MPs from her own party refused to support the agreement, while part of the left denounced an abandonment of principles in exchange for government stability.

State of the evidence

coalition decision and internal criticism documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

political responsibility for choosing and leading the coalition

Following irregularities in the 2021 recount in the Northwest constituency, Iceland's Parliament approved the disputed results. Jakobsdóttir was part of the majority supporting that decision. In April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Icelandic procedure lacked sufficient guarantees of impartiality and effective remedy.

State of the evidence

parliamentary vote and ECHR judgment documented

Legal status — source text

the ECHR found a violation by Iceland; no personal wrongdoing by Jakobsdóttir judicially established

Attribution

political responsibility limited to her vote and Parliament's handling of the matter

Jakobsdóttir continued to state that she was personally opposed to Iceland's NATO membership, while leading an Alliance member state and supporting Finland's and Sweden's membership applications following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This tension was criticised as ambiguous or opportunistic.

State of the evidence

public statements and government policy documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

political responsibility for a personal position in tension with the government's institutional position

Food Minister Svandís Svavarsdóttir temporarily suspended whaling in 2023. The Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Jakobsdóttir had been informed before the announcement and strongly supported the measure. In January 2024, the Parliamentary Ombudsman concluded that the ban, as adopted by the responsible minister, was not in accordance with the law.

State of the evidence

prior political support and Parliamentary Ombudsman's opinion documented

Legal status — source text

the Ombudsman found the Food Minister's regulation contrary to law; no finding of personal legal wrongdoing by Jakobsdóttir

Attribution

political responsibility for her support; legal responsibility for the regulatory decision not transferred to the Prime Minister

In April 2024, Jakobsdóttir resigned as Prime Minister to stand in the presidential election. The decision was criticised by those who considered it an abandonment of an already weakened government and a prioritisation of her personal career. She was ultimately defeated by Halla Tómasdóttir in June 2024.

State of the evidence

resignation, candidacy and election result documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for choosing to leave government to stand for election

The 2022 sale of a state stake in Íslandsbanki caused considerable public anger, particularly after it emerged that Finance Minister Bjarni Benediktsson's father was among the buyers. In 2023, following an Ombudsman's opinion finding a conflict of interest involving Bjarni, he left the Finance Ministry but returned days later as Foreign Minister. Jakobsdóttir considered his resignation appropriate while accepting his continued presence in government, prompting criticism.

State of the evidence

contested sale, Ombudsman's opinion and government decisions documented

Legal status — source text

conflict of interest concerned Bjarni Benediktsson; no finding of personal wrongdoing by Jakobsdóttir

Attribution

political responsibility for coalition management and retaining Bjarni in a ministerial portfolio

In November 2022, the deportation to Greece of several asylum seekers, including a disabled man, attracted strong criticism in Iceland and within Jakobsdóttir's party youth movement. The Prime Minister stated that the man's rights needed to be examined and that the government should learn lessons from the case.

State of the evidence

deportation and government reactions documented

Legal status — source text

no personal conviction of Jakobsdóttir identified

Attribution

political responsibility as head of government; operational decision within the remit of the competent authorities

During the 2021 election debate, Jakobsdóttir faced the paradox of a government led by an environmentalist while Iceland remained among the OECD countries with high per-capita emissions. She acknowledged that the government had not done enough on climate, fuelling criticism from activists and Green voters.

State of the evidence

indicators, election debate and public acknowledgement documented

Legal status — source text

no legal proceedings

Attribution

political responsibility as Prime Minister of a Left-Green-led coalition