Bjarni Benediktsson Becomes Iceland's Prime Minister, Replacing Katrín Jakobsdótti

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Benediktsson took office as Prime Minister of Iceland on April 9, 2024, succeeding Katrín Jakobsdóttir.

An Overview of the News

• Before his appointment as PM, Benediktsson served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from October 2023.

• He previously held the position of Prime Minister from January to November 2017.

• Benediktsson's career began as a District Court attorney in 1998, followed by his election to the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, representing Southwest Iceland in 2003.

• Since 2009, he has led the Independence Party.

• Benediktsson also served as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from 2013 to 2017 and resumed the position from November 30, 2017, until October 14, 2023.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir's Contributions:

• Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the second woman to hold the position of PM in Iceland after Jóhanna Sigurðardótti, served as PM since 2017.

• She resigned to pursue the presidency and also stepped down as Chairperson of the Left-Green Movement.

• Jakobsdóttir has been a Member of Althingi for the Reykjavík North Constituency since 2007.

• Her previous ministerial roles include Minister of Education, Science, and Culture, as well as Minister of Nordic Cooperation, from 2009 to 2013.

Iceland's Current Landscape:

• Iceland's current President is Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.

• Reykjavík serves as the capital.

• The currency used is the Icelandic Króna (ISK).