• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Leadership

Iceland’s Agriculture Minister to Take Prime Minister Spot After Panama Papers

By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 7, 2016, 9:36 AM ET
ICELAND-TAX-MEDIA-PANAMA
Photograph by Halldor Kolbeins—AFP/Getty Images

The Icelandic government is racing to regroup in the wake of the Panama Papers release that forced Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson to resign.

Iceland’s Agriculture Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson will take over as the country’s prime minister until general elections in the fall, according to the Wall Street Journal. The close ally of Gunnlaugsson—who was revealed to have offshore holdings by the disclosures—must now be approved by Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grímsson.

Though general elections were scheduled to be held in the spring of 2017, they have been moved up to this fall.

Gunnlaugsson is the first public official to resign after this week’s release of the Panama Papers, a trove of documents revealing how hundreds of public officials worldwide hid their wealth or avoided taxes with offshore holdings. Other public figures named in the papers include Argentinian president Mauricio Macri, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, and a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

About the Author
By Claire Groden
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.