The Iceland government has appointed former agriculture and fisheries minister, Sigurdur Ingi as the country’s new Prime Minister. Not just that, Iceland also pledged to hold early parliamentary elections before the end of this year.
The move on Wednesday came after former Prime Minister and ruling Progressive Party (PP) chairman Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson stepped down in the wake of the leaked Panama Papers.
The leaks from Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca showed Gunnlaugsson owned an offshore firm with his wife.
However, Gunnlaugsson said he sold his shares to his wife and denies any wrongdoing. But he is accused of concealing millions of dollars’ worth of family assets.
It was unclear whether the move would satisfy angry Icelanders, who staged a mass demonstration outside parliament for a third consecutive day on Wednesday.
“We want new elections,” said Atli Magnusson, a behavioural analyst, standing with 3,000 other protesters. “They don’t have our trust anymore,” The Guardian reported.
Johannsson is expected to meet Iceland’s president, Olafur Ragnar Grímsson, later on Thursday to seek his approval to become the country’s next prime minister.
Also Read on The Quint
Probe Initiated on Panama Papers Leak, World’s Wealthy Deny Links
Messi Family Denies Involvement in the Panama Papers Scandal
Unravelling Panamagate Will be a Challenge For Indian Agencies
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)