REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) – Iceland’s fisheries and agriculture minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson said Wednesday he will seek the president’s approval to become the country’s next prime minister after the previous leader resigned because of revelations he had offshore accounts.
Johannsson said Iceland’s center-right governing coalition remains intact despite the turmoil that started Sunday after a massive leak of documents from a Panamanian law firm showed it created offshore accounts for Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson and his wife. Gunnlaugsson stepped down two days later.
Johannsson is expected to meet President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson on Thursday, but the opposition opposes the move and is planning to pursue a vote of no confidence in parliament.
“We will still push forward a proposal to dissolve parliament and hold earlier elections,” said Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, a legislator with the Pirate Party, which has high popular support.
Opposition lawmakers have said Gunnlaugsson’s offshore accounts revealed a significant conflict of interest with his official duties. They now accuse the government of trying to cling to power.