Bjarni Benediktsson (born 1970)
| Bjarni Benediktsson | |
|---|---|
| 29th Prime Minister of Iceland | |
|
Assumed office 11 January 2017 |
|
| President | Guðni Th. Jóhannesson |
| Preceded by | Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson |
| Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs | |
|
In office 23 May 2013 – 11 January 2017 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson |
| Preceded by | Katrín Júlíusdóttir |
| Succeeded by | Benedikt Jóhannesson |
| Leader of the Independence Party | |
|
Assumed office 29 March 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Geir Haarde |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
26 January 1970 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Political party | Independence Party |
| Spouse(s) | Þóra Margrét Baldvinsdóttir |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater |
University of Iceland University of Miami |
Bjarni Benediktsson (born 26 January 1970 in Reykjavík), known colloquially as Bjarni Ben, is an Icelandic politician, who has served as Prime Minister since January 2017. He has been the leader of the Icelandic Independence Party since 2009, and previously served as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from 2013 to 2017.
After obtaining a law degree at the University of Iceland, Bjarni completed his studies in Germany and the United States before returning to Iceland to work as a lawyer.
The former Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson was his great-uncle.
Bjarni entered the national parliament in 2003 and has been active in several committees in the areas of economy and taxation, industry and foreign affairs.
Bjarni was elected leader of the conservative Independence Party at its national convention on 29 March 2009 with 58.1 percent of the vote, about a month before the April 2009 Icelandic legislative elections. The party came in second in the elections with 16 seats, nine fewer than in the previous elections. After conceding defeat on 26 April 2009, Bjarni said his party had lost the trust of voters. "We lost this time but we will win again later," he said.
In the 2013 Althing elections on 28 April the Independence Party and their ally the Progressive Party each won 19 seats. On 17 May 2013 Icelandic media reported that Bjarni would take up the position of Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs in a cabinet led by Progressive Party leader Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. In the 2016 Althing elections, the Independence Party won 21 seats, while the Progressive party only won 8. Shortly after the results, Prime Minister Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson resigned from his post. A new coalition between the Independence Party, the Reform Party and Bright Future was formed in January 2017 with Bjarni designated to become Prime Minister.
...
Wikipedia