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Iceland Names New Prime Minister in Wake of Panama Papers

HeadlineApr 07, 2016

Iceland has named a new prime minister amid continued fallout from the revelations of the Panama Papers. Iceland’s former Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson resigned Tuesday after the leaked documents from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca revealed he owned an offshore company with his wife, which he failed to declare when he entered Parliament. On Wednesday, Iceland’s coalition government announced Agriculture Minister Sigurdur Ingi Jóhannsson would take over as prime minister and that a general election would be held in the fall. Jóhannsson spoke out after the announcement.

Sigurdur Ingi Jóhannsson: “It’s a big burden in this situation. It’s not the most happy situation when I am taking the prime minister’s seat. But I will try to do my best, and I’m hoping that the people of Iceland will see that the new government will increase the stability both in politics and in the governance.”

Reporter: “How would you describe the last three days?”

Sigurdur Ingi Jóhannsson: “They have been dramatic.”

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