In Iceland, a Discussion on How to Address the Husband of the Female President

The authorities and residents of Iceland are pondering how to address the partner of the country’s new leader, female president Halla Thorsteinsdottir. This was reported by the Swedish television channel SVT.

Throughout the country’s history, only one woman has held the highest office, Vigdis Finnbogadottir (who served from 1980 to 1996), who was divorced at the time of her election, and thus, there was no issue of how to address her partner.

The title of ‘First Lady,’ typically used for the wives of male presidents, is not applicable for the new president’s partner. The public broadcaster RUV has announced a competition for suggested titles and has conducted a street survey. They have also consulted artificial intelligence for advice. However, so far, no acceptable options have been found.

Businesswoman Halla Thorsteinsdottir won the presidential election on June 2, securing 34.3 percent of the votes. The President of Iceland is elected by direct vote, with elections conducted in a single round. A citizen of the republic who is at least 35 years old can become the head of state. Candidates can be nominated by political parties or run independently by gathering 1,500 to 3,000 signatures. Voting rights are granted to citizens of Iceland who are 18 years or older and permanently reside in the country. Currently, this number exceeds 250,000 (Iceland's population is around 380,000).