Halldór Ásgrímsson
Encyclopedia
Halldór Ásgrímsson (born 8 September 1947) is an Iceland
ic politician, formerly Prime Minister of Iceland
from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the Progressive Party
from 1994 to 2006.
and Copenhagen
, and worked as a lecturer at the University of Iceland
from 1973 to 1975.
(Icelandic Parliament) from 1974 to 1978 and from 1979 to 2003, when he was elected to represent the Reykjavík
North constituency. Over the years, he has served in a large number of ministerial portfolios, namely as Minister of Fisheries from 1983 to 1991, Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs from 1988 to 1989, Minister for Nordic Cooperation
from 1985 to 1987 and 1995 to 1999 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2004.
Halldór took over as Prime Minister on 15 September 2004, succeeding Independence Party
leader Davíð Oddsson
, while Davíð replaced Halldór as Foreign Minister.
On 5 June 2006, following poor results in municipal elections, Halldór announced his resignation as Prime Minister and stated that he intended to step down as leader of the Progressive Party in August 2006. Geir H. Haarde, the Foreign Minister of Iceland, succeeded him on 15 June 2006.
Halldór Ásgrímsson's successor as Progressive Party leader was Jón Sigurðsson, Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism
, who was elected at the party's convention in August 2006. At the convention Halldór ended his political career with an emotional and dynamic farewell speech to the party. Halldór resigned as MP after the convention; he was the longest serving MP at the time.
On 31 October 2006, Halldór was chosen as the Secretary-General of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Halldór Ásgrímsson is an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic politician, formerly Prime Minister of Iceland
Prime Minister of Iceland
The Prime Minister of Iceland is Iceland's head of government. The prime minister is appointed formally by the President and exercises executive authority along with the cabinet subject to parliamentary support....
from 2004 to 2006 and leader of the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (Iceland)
The Progressive Party is an agrarian, liberal and centrist party in Iceland. The party is a member of the Liberal International. Current chairman of the party is Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. He was elected on January 18, 2009. His predecessor was Valgerður Sverrisdóttir, who only served as...
from 1994 to 2006.
Education and early life
Halldór earned a bachelor's degree from the Co-operative College of Iceland, and became a certified public accountant in 1970. He later completed graduate commerce studies at the Universities of BergenUniversity of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
and Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
, and worked as a lecturer at the University of Iceland
University of Iceland
The University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about...
from 1973 to 1975.
Political career
He represented the East constituency as a member of the AlthingAlthing
The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant...
(Icelandic Parliament) from 1974 to 1978 and from 1979 to 2003, when he was elected to represent the Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
North constituency. Over the years, he has served in a large number of ministerial portfolios, namely as Minister of Fisheries from 1983 to 1991, Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs from 1988 to 1989, Minister for Nordic Cooperation
Minister for Nordic Cooperation (Iceland)
Iceland's Minister for Nordic Cooperation is a cabinet minister who takes on this role in addition to his or her departmental responsibilities. Since 1 February 2009 the minister has been Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir, who combines the role with her duties as Minister for the Environment.The Minister for...
from 1985 to 1987 and 1995 to 1999 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2004.
Halldór took over as Prime Minister on 15 September 2004, succeeding Independence Party
Independence Party (Iceland)
The Independence Party is a centre-right political party in Iceland. Liberal conservative and Eurosceptic, it is the second-largest party in the Althing, with sixteen seats. The chairman of the party is Bjarni Benediktsson and vice chairman is Ólöf Nordal....
leader Davíð Oddsson
Davíð Oddsson
Davíð Oddsson is an Icelandic politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of Iceland, holding office from 1991 to 2004. He also served as Foreign Minister from 2004 to 2005. Previously, he was Mayor of Reykjavík from 1982 to 1991, and he chaired the board of governors of the Central Bank of...
, while Davíð replaced Halldór as Foreign Minister.
On 5 June 2006, following poor results in municipal elections, Halldór announced his resignation as Prime Minister and stated that he intended to step down as leader of the Progressive Party in August 2006. Geir H. Haarde, the Foreign Minister of Iceland, succeeded him on 15 June 2006.
Halldór Ásgrímsson's successor as Progressive Party leader was Jón Sigurðsson, Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism
Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism (Iceland)
The Icelandic Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism is one of the cabinet-level government ministries responsible for Iceland's economy. It shares that responsibility with the Ministry of Business Affairs and the Ministry of Fisheries...
, who was elected at the party's convention in August 2006. At the convention Halldór ended his political career with an emotional and dynamic farewell speech to the party. Halldór resigned as MP after the convention; he was the longest serving MP at the time.
On 31 October 2006, Halldór was chosen as the Secretary-General of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Halldór Ásgrímsson is an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.