“Politics is the art of compromise”
April 15, 2026
Photo: Kristinn Ingvarsson.
The President of Iceland in dialogue with the President of Slovenia.
The President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, engaged in a dialogue the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, at Veröld – House of Vigdís in Reykjavík. The discussion was titled “Courage to Care: Leadership in a Changing World”. They addressed were growing distrust in international relations, the impact of technological development on democratic processes, and the role of smaller nations and young people in shaping the future.
The President of Iceland said at the outset that it was a pleasure that they were meeting on the birthday of Mrs. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman to be democratically elected president, in a building that bears her name. The President of Slovenia agreed and pointed out that female national leaders are still very much in the minority, both in Europe and worldwide.
President Musar also expressed concern that the number of democracies had declined in recent years and that a small minority of the world’s population lived under democratic governance. She also pointed out that at present the number of armed conflicts in the world is higher than at any time since the end of the WWII. She said it was clear that larger and more powerful nations were increasingly flouting international law and agreements and added that leaders and citizens of democratic states had a strong duty to speak clearly in support of the values they believed in. “The power we have lies in our words,” she underlined.
President Tómasdóttir also turned her remarks to the role that women leaders could play under these circumstances, but stressed that it was necessary to strengthen the involvement of the younger generation in shaping the future. “Young people are a force for change,” she said, referring to her own experience in this regard. President Musar struck the same note, saying it was important that young people should not inherit decades‑old disputes from their elders. “Politics is the art of compromise,” she added, saying that it was of crucial importance that those in power should strive to achieve consensus, keep their word, and respect the agreements they make.
President Musar’s visit to Iceland was organized in connection with the annual Wellbeing Forum, which takes place in Reykjavík on April 16 and 17. It is possible to watch a recording of the event in Veröld here.
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