Iceland’s Minister of Children and Education, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, resigned following reports that she had a child with a 15-year-old minor when she was in her twenties.
On Thursday, Icelandic public broadcaster RUV revealed that Thórsdóttir, now 58, began a relationship with a boy seven years younger than her when she was 22. They met through a religious organization she was involved in.
Their relationship led to the birth of a child. At the time, the boy had sought help from the organization due to difficulties at home. The following year, they had a son.
Thórsdóttir confirmed the report’s accuracy and announced her resignation as minister, though she will remain in parliament. She described the incident as a youthful mistake: “It has been 36 years, and much has changed. I would handle this situation differently now.”
The biological father alleged that after Thórsdóttir married her current husband, she interfered with his relationship with both him and their child. He also claimed she demanded child support from him for 18 years.
A relative of the biological father personally informed Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir about the situation. The Prime Minister then summoned Thórsdóttir to verify the facts, during which Thórsdóttir expressed her intention to resign.
In Iceland, individuals under 18 are legally considered minors. While the general age of consent is 15, sexual relationships with minors are illegal in cases involving teacher-student dynamics, economic dependency, employment, or trust-based relationships. Violating this law can lead to up to three years in prison.
