Iceland voted in a presidential election on Saturday expected to see newcomer Gudni Johannesson waltz to victory with voters angry at the establishment — though more excited about the country's Euro football debut.
Mr. Johannesson, a 47-year-old history professor and political commentator who has never held public office, only decided to run after the so-called Panama Papers leak in April which detailed offshore accounts and implicated several senior Icelandic politicians, including the prime minister who was forced to resign.
Mr. Johannesson has vowed to restore Icelanders' faith in the system after years of public anger toward politicians for miring the country in scandals and financial woes.
The outrage that fuelled mass street protests in April and led to the premier's ouster appeared to have dissipated somewhat in the final days of campaigning, as euphoria erupted over the Icelandic football squad achieving a historic feat at the Euro 2016 football tournament.
A North Atlantic island of just 334,000 people, Iceland beat Austria 2-1 on Wednesday to qualify for the last 16 in its Euro debut, facing off against England on Monday.
The news dominated the headlines, with only sparse coverage of the looming election.
No EU ambitions
Britain's vote to leave the European Union also headlined the news on the eve of the election in Iceland, which itself had applied for EU membership in 2009 but abandoned the bid six years later.
Like most of Iceland's voters, Mr. Johannesson is opposed to EU membership.
The President holds a largely ceremonial position, acting as a guarantor of the constitution and national unity.
The constitution does allow the President to dissolve Parliament, as well as veto bills and put them to a referendum, though those powers have rarely been used.
Current President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson is stepping down at 73 after five straight terms spanning 20 years.
More important legislative elections are due in the autumn.
In opinion polls, Mr. Johannesson has held a commanding lead over the other eight candidates since announcing his candidacy in early May.
The last opinion surveys before the vote credited him with between 45 and 49 percent of voter sympathies.
Mr. Johannesson's closest rival for most of the campaign has been David Oddsson, with between 12 and 16 per cent of support.
The 68-year-old, who served as Conservative Prime Minister from 1991 to 2004 and Central Bank Governor from 2005 to 2009, is a divisive figure in Iceland, inextricably linked to the excesses of the banking boom that led to the country's devastating 2008 financial crisis.
He was overtaken in the final days of the campaign by businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir, who was credited with just over 18 per cent of votes in a poll on Friday.
“I cling to the thought that I have some hidden votes,” Mr. Oddsson said as he cast his ballot Saturday.
‘Neutral candidate’
Mr. Johannesson was until recently known to Icelanders as one of the country's most prominent political commentators from the University of Iceland.
Unlike Mr. Oddsson, Mr. Johannesson is non-partisan, putting “emphasis on presenting himself as a neutral candidate,” Gretar Eythorsson, a political science professor at the University of Akureyri, said.
In a nation basking in a strong economy, low unemployment and robust purchasing power, Mr. Johannesson's views are generally seen as moderate and centrist.
His calm nature, conciliatory tone, and consensus-oriented approach has appealed to voters.
He has also vowed to modernise political life and give voters more of a voice, by, among other things, introducing citizen-initiated referendums.
Casting his ballot Saturday, Mr. Johannesson told AFP he was satisfied he had “managed to present to the people my vision of the presidency.”
Asked what his first task would be if he wins, he replied: “Go to France on Monday and see Iceland play England.”
Mr. Johannesson is “a representative of new times, so he got my vote,” Jon Gudmundsson, a 43-year-old office clerk said after submitting his ballot.
Others thought someone with more experience was needed.
“David Oddsson is my man. I think he is the only candidate with the knowledge and experience to take on this important office,” said shopkeeper Elin Jonsdottir, 62.
Around 245,000 Icelanders were eligible to vote. Polling stations were to close at 2200 GMT, with the first results expected shortly afterwards.
