Bjarni Benediktsson (born 1970)

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name; this person is properly referred to by the given name Bjarni.
Bjarni Benediktsson
Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs
Assumed office
23 May 2013
Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson
Preceded by Katrín Júlíusdóttir
Personal details
Born (1970-01-26) 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, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs since 23 May 2013 and leader of the Icelandic Independence Party since 2009. The former Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson was his great-uncle. The media sometimes refer to them as Bjarni Benediktsson Sr and Bjarni Benediktsson Jr to differentiate between the identical names of the two politicians.

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.[1] 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.[2]

In the 2013 Althing elections on 28 April the Independence Party and their ally the Progressive Party each won 19 seats.[3] 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.[4]

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. He entered the national parliament in 2003 and has been active in several committees in the areas of economy and taxation, industry and foreign affairs.

Married with four children, his interests include football and fishing.

References

  1. ↑ "New Chairman Elected for Iceland’s Independents", Iceland Review, 30 March 2009, retrieved 26 April 2009
  2. ↑ Centre-left wins Iceland election, BBC News, 26 April 2009, retrieved 26 April 2009
  3. ↑ Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition wins election, BBC News, 28 April 2013, retrieved 1 May 2013
  4. ↑ Iceland Election: Sigmundur Davíð to be Prime Minister icelandreview.com, 18 May 2013, retrieved 19 May 2013

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by
Geir Haarde		 Leader of the Independence Party
2009–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Katrín Júlíusdóttir		 Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs
2013–present 		Incumbent
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