Article content

COPENHAGEN — Iceland’s president on Saturday accepted the resignation of the volcanic island’s prime minister, who says a new election mostly likely will be held on Nov. 4.

Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson lost his nine-month-old, centre-right coalition after one party quit over an attempt by the prime minister’s father to help clear the name of a convicted pedophile.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Iceland's PM resigns after nine months. A new election is expected on Nov. 4 Back to video

President Gudni Th. Johannesson met Saturday with Benediktsson and was meeting with other party leaders later in the day.

A small centrist party, Bright Future, quit the ruling coalition Friday after it emerged that Benediktsson’s father had written a letter urging a pardon for Hjalti Sigurjon Hauksson, who was convicted in 2004 of raping his stepdaughter almost every day for 12 years.

Under Iceland’s judicial system, a person who has served a sentence for a serious crime can apply to authorities to “restore their honour” and seek employment again, meaning their criminal record is erased. For that, a letter of recommendation by a close friend or an associate is needed.