Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Minister of Education, Science and Culture | |
---|---|
In office 2 February 2009 – 23 May 2013 | |
Prime Minister | Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir |
Preceded by | Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir |
Succeeded by | Illugi Gunnarsson |
Personal details | |
Born | Reykjavík, Iceland | 1 February 1976
Political party | Left-Green Movement |
Spouse | Gunnar Sigvaldason |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University of Iceland |
Katrín Jakobsdóttir (Icelandic:
A graduate of the University of Iceland, she became deputy chairperson of the Left-Green Movement in 2003, and has been their chairperson since 2013. Katrín was Iceland's minister of education, science, and culture, and of Nordic co-operation from 2 February 2009 to 23 May 2013.[1] She is Iceland's second female prime minister, after Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. On 19 February 2020, she was named Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders.[2]
Education
Katrín graduated from the
She went on to complete a
Non-political career
Katrín worked part-time as a language adviser at the
Political career
Katrín became deputy chairwoman of the Left-Green Movement in 2003, and has been their chairperson since 2013.[4]
She has been a member of the
Katrín was Iceland's minister of education, science, and culture, and of Nordic co-operation from 2 February 2009 to 23 May 2013.[1]
Prime Minister (2017–present)
Before becoming Prime Minister, Katrín was chairperson of the Left-Green Movement.[5] In the wake of the 2017 Icelandic parliamentary election, President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson tasked her with forming a governing coalition to consist of the Left-Green Movement, the Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Alliance, and the Pirate Party.[6] Coalition talks between the four parties formally began on 3 November 2017,[7] but were unsuccessful because of Progressive Party concerns that her coalition would have too thin a majority.[8] As a result, Katrín sought to lead a three-party coalition with the Independence Party and Progressive Party. After coalition talks were completed, President Guðni formally granted her a mandate to lead the government, which was installed on 30 November.[9][10]
Political analysts note that Katrín Jakobsdóttir's government has been able to maintain stability through a coalition comprising the Left-Green Movement, the Progressive Party, and the Independence Party. This stability has been attributed to a balanced approach that incorporates different political perspectives, including a focus on regional support and primary industries as well as a cautious stance on European integration.[11]
As Prime Minister, Katrín has implemented a range of policies aimed at social betterment. These include making the tax system more progressive, investing in social housing, extending parental leave, and taking steps to reduce gender pay inequality. To maintain coalition stability, she has also made some compromises, such as forgoing the establishment of a national park in the country's centre.[12]
By September 2021, nearly four years after taking office, Katrín's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic received positive reviews. While Iceland's small size and geographical isolation may have contributed to its relatively low death toll, the country's proactive measures under her guidance were also a factor.[13] Tourism was reintroduced cautiously, although there was a subsequent increase in COVID-19 cases.
In the
In October 2023, she gained international attention for going on strike with women and non-binary people in calling for pay equality and action against gender-based violence. The strike is also the first of its kind since 1975.[15]
Political positions
Katrín opposes Icelandic membership of NATO, but as part of the compromise between the Left-Greens and their coalition partners, the government does not intend to withdraw from NATO or hold a referendum on NATO membership.[16] Katrín also opposes Iceland joining the European Union (EU).[17][18] The coalition government does not intend to hold a referendum on restarting Iceland's accession negotiations with the EU.[17][18]
Personal life
Katrín is married to Gunnar Sigvaldason, and is mother of three sons (born 2005, 2007, and 2011). Her father, Jakob Ármannsson, was an educator and banker and her mother, Signý Thoroddsen, was a psychologist.[4]
She hails from a family which has produced many prominent people in Icelandic
Her debut crime novel "Reykjavík: A Crime Story," co-written with best-selling Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson, was published in October 2022,[19][20] with an English translation published in September 2023.[21][22]
International cooperation
Katrín has been a member of the following committees:[1]
- Icelandic Delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (since 2017)
- Icelandic Delegation to the EFTA and EEAParliamentary Committees (2014–2016)
- EU-Iceland joint Parliamentary Committee (Deputy Chair 2014–2016)
- Icelandic delegation to the West Nordic Council (2013–2014)
References
- ^ a b c d e f Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Secretariat of Althingi, retrieved 31 January 2009
- ^ "Her Excellency, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland Appointed Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders". Council of Women World Leaders. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ Brandsma, Elliott (7 March 2015). "Education is Our Best Investment". Stúdentablaðið. University of Iceland. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ a b c "Katrín Jakobsdóttir". Alþingi (in Icelandic). Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ^ "Katrín komin með umboðið". Morgunblaðið. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Sigurður Bogi Sævarsson (3 November 2017). "Málefnunum skipt í tvennt". Morgunblaðið. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
- ^ "Iceland's leftist parties fail to form government". Yahoo/AFP. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ "Iceland's Left-Green leader Jakobsdóttir becomes new PM". BBC News. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Jón Pétur Jónsson (28 November 2017). "Katrín fær stjórnarmyndunarumboðið". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- S2CID 214060768.
- ^ "Législatives en Islande: plus de 47 % de femmes parmi les nouveaux élus". Le Monde (in French). 26 September 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "L'Islande aux urnes avec un casse-tête politique en vue". Ouest-France (in French). 23 September 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Fontaine, Andie Sophia (13 October 2021). "Poll: Largest Share Of Those Polled Want Katrín Jakobsdóttir To Continue As Prime Minister". The Reykjavík Grapevine. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "Iceland's first full-day women's strike in 48 years aims to close pay gap". The Guardian. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Iceland PM: Equality requires clear policy". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Þjóðaratkvæðagreiðsla um Evrópusambandsaðild ekki forgangsmál hjá Vinstri grænum". Vísir (in Icelandic). 23 October 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Össur segir kjósendur VG vilja í ESB". mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ ‘It’s a therapeutic genre for me’: Iceland’s PM releases debut crime novel
- ^ Prime Minister by Day, Noir Writer by Night
- ^ Reykjavík
- ^ Reykjavík