Child abuse & neglect

Iceland: Children's Minister Resigns Over Past Relationship Admission

Published MAR 24 2025

Story

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The Facts

Iceland's Minister for Children and Education, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, has resigned after admitting that she had a relationship with a 15-year-old boy when she was 22 and gave birth to their son when the boy was 16 and she was 23.
New York Post
ap
Ásthildur said the relationship began when they met at a religious group called Trú og líf (Faith and Life), where she served as a counselor. Though Iceland's age of consent is 15, it remains illegal for adults to have sexual relations with children under 18 if they are in a teaching or mentoring position.
BBC News
CNN
She added that the boy, Eirík Ásmundsson, was present at birth and initially had contact with his son. However, access was severely restricted after Ásthildur met her current husband, despite Eirík paying child support for 18 years.
RÚV
ap
Documents obtained by Icelandic news agency RUV show that Eirík sought assistance from Iceland's Ministry of Justice and the church's family service to gain access to his son.
RÚV
BBC News
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir summoned Ásthildur after receiving information about the relationship on Thursday, leading to the minister's resignation. However, she will retain her position as a member of parliament for the People's Party.
CNN
New York Post
Visir.Is
Following Ásthildur's resignation, Gumundur Ingi Kristinsson was appointed Minister of Education and Children's Affairs on Sunday.
Iceland Monitor
Government of Iceland

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The relationship occurred 36 years ago during a different era when such age gaps were not uncommon, and the minister was not officially leading the church group but was merely a member. Additionally, any restrictions on father-child contact were due to practical circumstances rather than intentional obstruction.

RÚV

Iceland Monitor

Narrative B

The minister abused her position of trust as a counselor to engage in an inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable teenager seeking support due to difficulties at home, then systematically denied him access to their child while still demanding child support payments for 18 years.

People

BBC News