Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, Iceland's Minister for Children, has resigned just hours after confessing to a relationship with a teenager more than 30 years ago. In a candid media interview, Thórsdóttir recounted how she began dating a boy when he was only 15, while she was a 22-year-old counselor at a religious group he attended. This relationship resulted in the birth of their child when he was 16 and she was 23. Thórsdóttir expressed regret, stating, “It's been 36 years, a lot of things change in that time and I would definitely have dealt with these issues differently today.”
The revelation caught the attention of Iceland’s Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, who called it "a serious matter." Though she maintained a level of discretion due to the personal nature of the situation, she acknowledged her limited knowledge of the details before Thórsdóttir’s admission. Upon hearing the news, the Prime Minister promptly summoned Thórsdóttir to her office, where the minister proceeded to resign from her post.
The story first broke via Icelandic news agency RUV, which revealed that Thórsdóttir had met Eirík Ásmundsson, the boy involved, while he was navigating difficulties in his family life. Their relationship, initially kept secret, was marked by both Ásmundsson's presence during the birth of their son and subsequent child support requests that lasted nearly two decades, amidst the complexities of parental rights.
Thórsdóttir expressed frustration regarding the circumstances surrounding her resignation when she learned that a relative of Ásmundsson had approached the Prime Minister. She lamented, “I understand... what it looks like,” emphasizing the challenges of accurately conveying the full context of her story in the media landscape today.
While the age of consent in Iceland stands at 15, it is illegal for teachers or mentors to engage in sexual activities with those under 18 if there is a dependency relationship. The penalty for such actions can lead to three years in prison. Although she has stepped down as minister, Thórsdóttir has stated she intends to remain in parliament.
The revelation caught the attention of Iceland’s Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, who called it "a serious matter." Though she maintained a level of discretion due to the personal nature of the situation, she acknowledged her limited knowledge of the details before Thórsdóttir’s admission. Upon hearing the news, the Prime Minister promptly summoned Thórsdóttir to her office, where the minister proceeded to resign from her post.
The story first broke via Icelandic news agency RUV, which revealed that Thórsdóttir had met Eirík Ásmundsson, the boy involved, while he was navigating difficulties in his family life. Their relationship, initially kept secret, was marked by both Ásmundsson's presence during the birth of their son and subsequent child support requests that lasted nearly two decades, amidst the complexities of parental rights.
Thórsdóttir expressed frustration regarding the circumstances surrounding her resignation when she learned that a relative of Ásmundsson had approached the Prime Minister. She lamented, “I understand... what it looks like,” emphasizing the challenges of accurately conveying the full context of her story in the media landscape today.
While the age of consent in Iceland stands at 15, it is illegal for teachers or mentors to engage in sexual activities with those under 18 if there is a dependency relationship. The penalty for such actions can lead to three years in prison. Although she has stepped down as minister, Thórsdóttir has stated she intends to remain in parliament.
