Icelandic PM to resign amid offshore holdings controversy

5 April 2016, 7:24 pm

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A member of the Icelandic government says embattled Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson will resign amid the controversy over his offshore holdings.

Agriculture Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson told Icelandic broadcaster RUV that Gunnlaugsson was stepping down as leader of the country’s coalition government.

Iceland's Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson speaks during a parliamentary session in Reykjavik on Monday April 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson) — Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson speaks during a parliamentary session in Reykjavik on Monday April 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson)

Opposition lawmakers say Gunnlaugsson’s offshore holdings amounted to a major conflict of interest with his job.

Gunnlaugsson is the first major scalp from a leak of more than 11 million documents from a Panamanian law firm showing tax-avoidance arrangements of the rich and famous around the world.

— AP