Punishment for Conservatives In Iceland: World's First Gay Leader
After conservatives led the country to bankruptcy, Iceland voters reduced the power of conservatives and elected a left-wing coalition looking to join the European Union under the world's first openly gay national leader , according to The Times.
"Our time has come!" said the Social Democrat Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir, 66, who also leads with the coalition of the Left-Green party. It is the first time Iceland has had a left-wing absolute majority in their government, reported The Times.
The conservative Independent party had lost Iceland's trust after nearly 18 years of control, according to The Times.
Sigurdardottir argued that the government needs to apply for membership to the European Union and get rid of their own currency and adopt the euro so it can provide a sheild in the tough finicial situation, reported The New York Times.
"We want Iceland as soon as possible to join the European Union and adopt the euro," The New York Times reported she said. "I should emphasize that this is a priority issue for the Social Democrats."
Sigurdardottir's first 80 days in office have recieved "high ratings" by commentators in Iceland, commenting she has "steadied the country's faltering self-confidence in the wake of the banking collapse and turbulent January street protests" (New York Times).