Iceland's President Johannesson sworn in for second term

Icelandic President Gudni Johannesson has been sworn in for another four-year term in office.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, his second swearing-in ceremony on Saturday in Reykjavik's parliament was celebrated to a significantly reduced extent and in front of just 30 guests, including ex-heads of state, Johannesson's close family and Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir.

The traditional handshakes were banned, and the usual church service in the cathedral of the Icelandic capital was also cancelled.

Icelanders were instructed not to gather outside the parliament building this time to congratulate their new, yet also old, president.

A clear victory

At the end of June, Johannesson secured a second term with a clear victory over his only challenger Gudmundur Franklin Jonsson.

The 52-year-old has been Icelandic president since 2016 and is very popular with the population.

The head of state is traditionally sworn in on August 1 in Iceland.