"If young people want to make an impact, they need to engage, participate, campaign, and put words into action." With this candidacy speech, Áslaug ran as the secretary of the Independence Party at 24 years old in the fall of 2015, one of three central leadership roles in the largest and most historical political parties in Iceland. Áslaug was elected, and a year later, became the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, a member of the Judicial Affairs and Education Committee, and a member of the IPU. In 2019 she became the youngest Minister of Justice ever appointed and the youngest minister in the history of the Icelandic republic. She is currently the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
Throughout her political career, Áslaug has put gender issues at the forefront. She has appointed two female Supreme Justices, which has ensured gender equality in the Supreme Court for the first time, selected the first female National Commissioner of Police, and changed legislation on stalking and digital violence. Since being elected, she has stressed the importance of young people's participation in politics and highlighted the importance of building and maintaining a solid social media presence to engage young people in politics and make complex political debates accessible to all.
Áslaug intends to continue to encourage young people to speak up and follow their dreams. She believes that younger generations view things differently, are ready to take on responsibilities and make appropriate changes and understand the importance of acting fearlessly to ensure that the demands of modern societies are met at any given time.
