HELSINKI, June 3 – Halla Tomasdottir is set to become Iceland’s new president, seeing off former prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, who critics claim was too political for the post.
Jakobsdottir conceded defeat early on Sunday and congratulated Tomasdottir, the CEO of The B Team, a global non-profit co-founded by UK business tycoon Richard Branson to promote business practises focused on humanity and the climate.
Iceland’s president holds a largely ceremonial position in the parliamentary republic, acting as a guarantor of the constitution and national unity.
He or she does, however, have the power to veto legislation or submit it to a referendum.
Tomasdottir, 55, was officially credited with 34.6 percent of votes, after 71.6 percent of ballot papers had been counted on Sunday.
