Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir
Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Minister of Education and Children's Affairs | |
| In office 21 December 2024 – 20 March 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Kristrún Frostadóttir |
| Preceded by | Ásmundur Einar Daðason |
| Succeeded by | Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson |
| Member of the Althing | |
| Assumed office 25 September 2021 | |
| Constituency | South |
| Acting Speaker of the Althing | |
| In office 30 November 2024 – 5 February 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Birgir Ármannsson |
| Succeeded by | Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 November 1966 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Political party | People's Party |
| Spouse | Hafþór Ólafsson |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Iceland Iceland College of Education |
Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir (born 20 November 1966) is an Icelandic politician. She served as minister of education and children's affairs for four months until she resigned due to a scandal involving a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy when she was in her early 20s.[1] She has been a member of the Althing since 2021 for the People's Party of Iceland.[2]
Education
Ásthildur graduated from Reykjavik Women's Gymnasium in 1986 and from the Iceland College of Education in 1994 with a B.Ed.[2]
Diploma in Project Management and Leadership Training from Nordica Consulting Group at the Continuing Education Department of the University of Iceland 2016 and D-level IPMA certification in project management from the Icelandic Project Management Association (Verkefnastjórnunarfélagi Íslands).[2]
Previous career
She had worked as a teacher since 1994 throughout most of her career before becoming a minister.[2]
Resignation
On 20 March 2025, she resigned following a scandal in which she admitted to a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy when she was 22. They met in a religious group called Trú og Líf (English: Faith and Life), where she worked as a Christian youth leader.[3]
She later gave birth to his child when he was 16, and she was 23.[4]
At the time of the relationship, the age of consent in Iceland was 14. However, under current law, sexual relationships are not permitted between a person under the age of 18 and someone who is their teacher, mentor, or employer.[3]
References
- ^ "Þetta eru ráðherrar ríkisstjórnarinnar". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 21 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir" (in Icelandic). Althing.
- ^ a b "Barnamálaráðherra átti barn með unglingspilti sem hún kynntist í trúarsöfnuði". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ Kristjánsson, Alexander; Magnúsdóttir, Ásta Hlín (20 March 2025). "Ásthildur Lóa segir af sér ráðherraembætti - RÚV.is". RÚV. Retrieved 20 March 2025.