According to Icelandic media, Thórsdóttir admitted to having a child with a 15-year-old boy when she was 22, more than three decades ago.
Thórsdóttir shared that she met the teenager while working as a counsellor for a religious group. At the time, she was 22, and the boy, who was 16, became the father of her child when she was 23, according to reports by Iceland's public broadcaster, RUV.
Although the age of consent in Iceland is 15, the law prohibits adults in positions of authorityâ€"such as educatorsâ€"from engaging in sexual relationships with minors under the age of 18. Those found guilty can face up to 12 years in prison.
The father of the child stated that he never viewed himself as a victim, noting he was in a difficult personal situation at the time and turned to the church group for support. The relationship remained secret, but the father was present during the birth of their child.
Initially, he had access to the child, but this was nearly entirely cut off before the child turned one. However, he was required by law to pay child support for 18 years.
The young father sought legal help from the Ministry of Justice and the church's family service in an effort to maintain contact with his child, but Thórsdóttir reportedly denied him visitation rights.
Following the report from RUV, Thórsdóttir announced her resignation as Minister for Children and Education. However, she will continue her role as a member of parliament for the People's Party.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir confirmed that Thórsdóttir had made the decision to resign after discussing the matter with the country's three party leaders. Frostadóttir expressed that Thórsdóttir had taken responsibility swiftly and that the resignation was a personal decision.
While the minister denies the claims that she obstructed the father's attempts to maintain contact with his son, her resignation will be confirmed by the President of Iceland at a meeting of the State Council on Sunday.
Thórsdóttir's resignation has drawn significant attention in Iceland, though it remains to be seen whether the matter will further impact her political career.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
