Johanna Sigurdardottir was elected Iceland's Prime Minister by a clear majority on April 26, 2009. Her election was seen as a complete repudiation of the previous center-right party of Geir Haarde, who resigned on January 26 amidst weekly demonstrations and near riots that were prompted by the country's financial collapse. Sigurdardottir was previously the Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security.Business Week: Iceland Turns Left and Edges Toward EU (April 27, 2009)

One of her first actions was to call for discussions and a vote about whether Iceland should join the European Union, a move considered by some Icelanders as a pathway out of the economic collapse.CNN: First Gay Premier Takes Helm in Iceland (February 1, 2009) Business Week: Iceland Turns Left and Edges Toward EU (April 27, 2009)

"She is a senior parliamentarian, she is respected and loved by all of Iceland."—Environment Minister Thorunn SveinbjarnardottirTheStar.com (Toronto, Canada): Iceland's First Female Pm Openly Gay (January 28, 2009)

"Johanna is a very good woman--but she likes public spending, she is a tax raiser."—Geir Haarde, former prime minister of IcelandTheStar.com (Toronto, Canada): Iceland's First Female Pm Openly Gay (January 28, 2009)