The Democratic Legacy of Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the Former President of Iceland
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson opened the Arctic Circle Assembly at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre on 6th October 2016. This was his first formal appearance since leaving the presidency after serving twenty years in office. The first twelve years of Grímsson’s presidency were relatively conventional but in the last eight years—after the financial crisis of October 2008—he blazed new trails and carved out a unique position among the world’s leaders.
He challenged the international financial and supranational authorities by putting the controversial Icesave conflict to a national referendum. Instead of bowing to the international financial powers that brought down Greece, for example, the President of Iceland stood tall before the political elite and an imposing army of journalists who criticised the Icesave decision. He led the defence of his country, which stood alone against the outside world but then prevailed both ethically as well as before the courts.
