Johanna Siguroardottir, an openly gay female politician, will take over the reins of Iceland's government as interim prime minister on Saturday.

Siguroardottir has accepted the post of interim prime minister of Iceland until a May election, reports The Associated Press.

She is a well-liked politician and is expected to remain in power.

But the appointment is bittersweet for Siguroardottir who will be faced with mounting domestic problems. All of Iceland's banks have collapsed, unemployment looks likely to surpass 10% this year in a country used to 1% unemployment, and its currency, the krona, continues to plummet.

Siguroardottir's government profile includes personal details about her life, including her marriage to writer and playwright Jonina Leosdottir. She is the mother of two adult sons from a previous marriage.

Siguroardottir, the country's Social Affairs Minister, has a storied background of middle-class mom goes to Reykjavik and does good. Free from familial political connections, she is seen as a trusted ally of the people, a fact born out in her whopping 73% approval rating, making her the most popular minister in the country.

Her consideration is the result of the collapse of Iceland's coalition government. Prime Minister Geir Haarde, head of the Independence Party, stepped down on Monday amid violent demonstrations over an economy in a tailspin that has decimated the standard of living for the average Icelander. Haarde, who is fighting cancer, said he would not participate in the new parliamentary elections.

Siguroardottir's Social Democratic Alliance Party will share power with the Left-Greens.

“She's a good choice,” Björn Björnsson, 26, told Time. “She's one of our most experienced politicians and through this crisis she has shown nothing but integrity and concern for the public. Iceland needs someone we can trust again, and she's earned my trust.”

While the rest of world looks on in awe as a lesbian prepares to take over the reins of a country, Icelanders appear nonchalant about her personal life. The fight for gay and lesbian equality in Iceland is all but won. The tiny country (pop. 32,000) established civil unions, which include provisions for adoption, for gay and lesbian couples in 1996.

“Being gay is not an issue in Iceland,” says Frosti Jónsson, chairman of Iceland's gay and lesbian association. “There are so many openly gay prominent figures in the public and private sector here that it doesn't affect who we select for our highest offices. Our minds are focused on what counts, which is the current situation in the country.”