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London: Birgitta Jonsdottir, ex Mullumbimby and Melbourne resident, former colleague of Julian Assange, now official 'poetician' for Iceland's Pirate Party, admits with some surprise that she might be her country's next prime minister.
"Statistically, that's very possible," she says. "But then, that is not my main goal."
Former Australian resident and possibly Iceland's next prime minister, Birgitta Jonsdottir. Photo: Getty Images
Ms Jonsdottir is tired after one of the most extraordinary days in modern Icelandic politics – a day the Panama Papers leaks claimed their first victim.
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Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson on Tuesday announced a 'non-resignation' – insisting in a statement that he had not resigned, but had just "suggested … that the Progressive Party vice chairman take over the office of prime minister for an unspecified amount of time".
It followed a tumultuous 24 hours, which had seen the tiny island's biggest-ever public political protest, with thousands in the streets.
Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson leaves after holding a meeting at Iceland's Parliament in Reykjavik, on Tuesday. Photo: APTN/AP
The Panama Papers leaks revealed Mr Gunnlaugsson had owned an offshore company with his wife, that he had not declared when entering parliament.
He was accused of concealing millions of dollars of family assets in a tax-minimising structure.
A statement issued by the prime minister's office said he and his wife "have never sought to hide these [offshore] assets from Icelandic tax authorities… and taxes have been paid accordingly in Iceland".
Forced to resign after Panama Papers revelations: Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson. Photo: Bloomberg
"Even The Guardian and other media covering the story have confirmed that they have not seen any evidence to suggest that the prime minister, his wife or [their company]Â Wintris engaged in any actions involving tax avoidance, tax evasion, or any dishonest financial gain," the statement said.
In response to the protests, Mr Gunnlaugsson on Tuesday asked the country's president to dissolve parliament and call an early election.
But in an almost unheard-of move, the president refused the advice of the prime minister, saying he wanted to consult with the rest of the coalition.
People protest in front of Iceland's Parliament in Reykjavik, on Tuesday after the leak of millions of records on offshore accounts claimed its first high profile victim, the country's prime minister. Photo: AP
Ms Jonsdottir, a member of parliament for the Iceland's Pirate Party, says Mr Gunnlaugsson had taken his colleagues by surprise with his visit to the president. Â
"He had not consulted with anybody and they were like so pissed off," she said. "They did not conceal it, they were just seething."
They had then forced him to resign, she says.
People protest in Reykjavik, Iceland on Tuesday amid outrage over revelations Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson used a shell company to conceal a conflict of interest. Photo: AP
"It's been a really long day… this whole day was totally bizarre in so many different ways."
If there was to be an election Ms Jonsdottir – as her party's current leading spokesperson – could end up prime minister.
Despite only having three MPs out of 63 in the Althingi, a year ago this group of activists, poets and hackers took the lead in the polls – as the favourite party for a third of voters.
A picture mimicking Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson near the Icelandic Parliament building in downtown Reykjavik. Photo: Getty Images
In the most recent Gallup poll last week, the Pirates stood to gain 36 per cent of the vote, making it more popular than the two government parties (Independence and Progressive) put together.
"It is very possible that the Pirate Party will be a large party if there are snap elections this year," Ms Jonsdottir said.
"But like we've seen today, one day in politics can be very eventful and things can turn around very quickly.
"Like I always say, it's birds in the woods and I don't want to count them until I have some in my hands, which would be the results of elections."
She says she and her colleagues are still surprised by the popularity of their party – "it's the big riddle we're always trying to solve".
"It's not only because we are a party that has not been a part of government, I think it is also because people sense that we present changes that revolve around changing the systems, rather than changing minor things that might easily be changed back, which seems to be the pattern of modern politics."
Icelanders have been "just really pissed off" by the revelations in the Panama Papers, she says.
"They were really shocked to see themselves through the eyes of the world like that… they want a new government. They want a vote.
"So I don't think (the change of prime minister) is going to solve anything. It is lengthening the hanging rope."
She says a planned vote of no confidence by minor parties in the Althingi will probably fail, but she would not be surprised if the government called a snap poll within the next few months, after securing its legacy.
If they try to brazen it out, they can expect more big protests – including a large one being organised for this weekend.
"I would just like for the government to acknowledge that there is no trust," Ms Jonsdottir said.
"If we want to save face in the international community something more needs to happen.
"When you have a sense of complete distrust like we are experiencing in Iceland then things can't just go back to normal, you know?"
Jonsdottir entered parliament in 2009 as part of a coalition called the Civic Movement.
Afterwards she discovered WikiLeaks​ and met Julian Assange, who she helped curate the leaked Iraq War video Collateral Murder, which showed a series of helicopter attacks that killed Iraqi men including two Reuters correspondents.