Iceland elects businesswoman Halla Tómasdóttir as president

Tómasdóttir was elected to the largely ceremonial post with 34.3%, defeating a former prime minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, who gained 25.2%.

Transcript

00:00 Iceland elected businesswoman Halle Thomasdóttir as president.

00:05 The investor topped a field of candidates in which the top three finishers were women.

00:10 The 55-year-old campaigned as someone who is above party politics.

00:15 She said she could open discussions on issues like the effect of social media on mental health,

00:20 tourism in Iceland and the role of artificial intelligence.

00:25 Thomasdóttir first rose to prominence in the country during the financial crisis.

00:30 She will start in the new role on August 1.

00:34 (whooshing)