Iceland’s minister for children, Ásthildur Lóa Thórsdóttir, has abruptly stepped down after revealing that she had a child over three decades ago with a 16-year-old boy who was later made to pay child support for 18 years.
The shocking revelation came on Thursday when Icelandic news outlet RUV uncovered the decades-old relationship, prompting Thórsdóttir, 58, to come clean. She admitted that in the late 1980s, as a 22-year-old counsellor in a church group, she became involved with a teenage member, Eirík Ásmundsson.
A year later, at 23, Thórsdóttir gave birth to their child, with Ásmundsson present in the delivery room. Despite his young age, he was legally required to pay child support until the child turned 18. Reports suggest that after Thórsdóttir married another man, she significantly limited Ásmundsson’s access to their child.
“I understand… what it looks like,” Thórsdóttir said in response to the backlash, adding that it was “very difficult to get the right story across in the news today.” She acknowledged that she would have handled the situation differently in hindsight.
While Iceland’s age of consent is 15, the law prohibits adults from engaging in sexual relationships with minors if they are in a position of authority, such as a teacher or mentor. It remains unclear whether authorities will launch an investigation.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir summoned Thórsdóttir on Thursday before the minister tendered her resignation. “This is a very personal matter [and] out of respect for the person concerned, I will not comment on the substance,” the PM said.
Despite stepping down from her ministerial role, Thórsdóttir has indicated she has no immediate plans to resign from parliament.