Ólafur Jóhannesson

This article is about the prime minister of Iceland. For the football manager, see Ólafur Jóhannesson (football manager). For the regisseur, see Olaf de Fleur.
This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Ólafur.
Ólafur Jóhannesson
19th Prime Minister of Iceland
In office
1 September 1978 – 15 October 1979
PresidentKristján Eldjárn
Preceded byGeir Hallgrímsson
Succeeded byBenedikt Gröndal
In office
14 July 1971 – 28 August 1974
PresidentKristján Eldjárn
Preceded byJóhann Hafstein
Succeeded byGeir Hallgrímsson
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
8 February 1980 – 26 May 1983
Prime MinisterGunnar Thoroddsen
Preceded byBenedikt Gröndal
Succeeded byGeir Hallgrímsson
Personal details
Born(1913-03-01)1 March 1913
Skagafjörður, Iceland
Died20 May 1984(1984-05-20) (aged 71)
Political partyProgressive Party
Alma materUniversity of Iceland

Ólafur Jóhannesson (1 March 1913 – 20 May 1984) was the Prime Minister of Iceland for the Progressive Party on two occasions. First from 1971 to 1974 and again from 1978 to 1979. He was a member of the Progressive Party, serving as party chairman during from 1968 to 1979.[1]

Career

Ólafur was educated at Akureyri Junior College (matriculated 1935), and studied law at the University of Iceland (graduated 1939, Hdl. 1942).[2] Following postgraduate studies in Denmark and Sweden, he worked as a lawyer and accountant, before returning to academia, becoming a lecturer and serving as a professor of law at the University of Iceland 1947–78.

He served as Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Minister Ecclesiastical Affairs 1971–74 and 1978–79; Minister for Justice, Minister Ecclesiastical Affairs and Trade Secretary 1974–78; and Foreign Minister 1980–83.[2] As Minister for Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs, he recognised Ásatrúarfélagið as a religious organisation in May 1973. During his tenure, Ólafur headed the government that defied United Kingdom during the Cod War.[3]

Ólafur became the Progressive Party leader in 1968 and formed a cabinet with him as a prime minister following the 1971 election. After the 1974 election, Geir Hallgrímsson the chairman of the Independence Party formed a new cabinet with the Progressive Party where Geir was prime minister. After the 1978 election, Ólafur became prime minister again and formed a new left-wing cabinet. In October 1979 Ólafur decided to dissolve the coalition because of economic disagreements, including because of high inflation and high gas prices.[4] Ólafur left as party leader later that year but served as an MP until his death in 1984. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1980 to 1983 in Gunnar Thoroddsen's cabinet.

Family

In 1941, Ólafur married Dóra Guðbjartsdóttir (1915−2004). They had three children.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Framsóknarflokkurinn", Wikipedia, frjálsa alfræðiritið (in Icelandic), 2024-08-11, retrieved 2024-08-15
  2. ^ a b Halfdanarson, Gudmundur (23 October 2008). Historical Dictionary of Iceland. Scarecrow Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-8108-6274-6. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  3. ^ Jessup, John E (1998). An encyclopedic dictionary of conflict and conflict resolution, 1945-1996. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-313-28112-9. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Annað ráðuneyti Ólafs Jóhannessonar", Wikipedia, frjálsa alfræðiritið (in Icelandic), 2021-05-22, retrieved 2024-08-15
  5. ^ "Tímarit.is".
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Progressive Party
1968–1979 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Iceland
1971–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Iceland
1978–1979 		Succeeded by
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