Iceland's incumbent President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has won a record fifth term in office, gathering a total of 52.4% of all votes in Saturday's election.
Runner up Thora Arnorsdottir, a journalist who gave birth during the campaign, was endorsed by 33.4%.
"This has been a valuable experience. Now I will take a holiday, attend to my new daughter and the other children and go on maternity leave and think how I can put this experience to use," Arnarsdottir has told local public broadcaster RUV, as cited by international media.
Even though the Presidency is a largely ceremonial post in Iceland, Grimson's refusal to sign off plans to pay EUR 4 B to Britain and the Netherlands for debts incurred during the 2008-9 financial crisis proved popular with Icelanders, BBC reminds.
Iceland's presidential elections have a single round and the candidate with the most votes wins a four-year term.
Grimsson first became president in 1996.
Text: novinite.com
(03.07.2012)