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Jóhanna was born in [[Reykjavík]] and studied at the [[Commercial College of Iceland]], a vocational high school operated by the Chamber of Commerce<!--, where she coincided with the controversial Icelandic businessman [[Björgólfur Guðmundsson]]-->. After graduating with her commercial diploma in 1960, she worked as a [[flight attendant]] with [[Loftleiðir]] (a predecessor of [[Icelandair]]) and as an office worker. She was active in the trade union movement from early in her professional life, presiding over the Board of the Icelandic Cabin Crew Association in 1966 and 1969 and over the Board of Svölurnar, Association of Former Stewardesses in 1975. She was also a member of the Board of the Commercial Workers' Union from 1976 to 1983.<ref name="CVMinistry">{{citation|title = Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir|url = http://eng.forsaetisraduneyti.is/minister/cv|publisher=Prime Minister's Office|accessdate =2 February 2009}}</ref>
Jóhanna was born in [[Reykjavík]] and studied at the [[Commercial College of Iceland]], a vocational high school operated by the Chamber of Commerce<!--, where she coincided with the controversial Icelandic businessman [[Björgólfur Guðmundsson]]-->. After graduating with her commercial diploma in 1960, she worked as a [[flight attendant]] with [[Loftleiðir]] (a predecessor of [[Icelandair]]) and as an office worker. She was active in the trade union movement from early in her professional life, presiding over the Board of the Icelandic Cabin Crew Association in 1966 and 1969 and over the Board of Svölurnar, Association of Former Stewardesses in 1975. She was also a member of the Board of the Commercial Workers' Union from 1976 to 1983.<ref name="CVMinistry">{{citation|title = Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir|url = http://eng.forsaetisraduneyti.is/minister/cv|publisher=Prime Minister's Office|accessdate =2 February 2009}}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political caree==
Jóhanna was [[Icelandic parliamentary election, 1978|elected to the Althing in 1978]] on the list of the [[Social Democratic Party (Iceland)|Social Democratic Party]] for the Reykjavík constituency.<ref name="CVAlthingi">{{citation|title = Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir|url = http://www.althingi.is/cv_en.php4?ksfaerslunr=17|publisher=Secretariat of Althingi|accessdate =28 January 2009}}</ref> She enjoyed early success in her parliamentary career, serving as deputy speaker of the Althing in 1979 and in 1983–84. She was elected vice-chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1984, a post she held until 1993. She was also [[Minister of Social Affairs (Iceland)|Minister of Social Affairs]] in four separate [[Cabinet of Iceland|Cabinets]] from 1987 to 1994,<ref name="CVMinistry"/> when she left the Social Democratic Party after losing the leadership contest to form a new party ''[[Þjóðvaki]]'' (variously translated as "Awakening of the Nation" or the "National Movement"); the two parties remerged in 2000 to form the present [[Social Democratic Alliance]]. Her 1994 declaration ''Minn tími mun koma!'' ("My time will come!"), after she lost the contest for the leadership of the Social Democratic party, has become an iconic phrase in the [[Icelandic language]].<ref name="Indy">{{citation|title = World gets its first gay leader|url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/world-gets-its-first-gay-leader-1519068.html|work=The Independent |location=UK |date = 29 January 2009|author=Peter Popham}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{citation|title = Profile: Johanna Sigurdardottir|url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/30/johanna-sigurdardottir-profile|author=Valur Gunnarsson|date = 30 January 2009|work=The Guardian |location=UK }}</ref>
fat mama was [[Icelandic parliamentary election, 1978|elected to the Althing in 1978]] on the list of the [[Social Democratic Party (Iceland)|Social Democratic Party]] for the Reykjavík constituency.<ref name="CVAlthingi">{{citation|title = Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir|url = http://www.althingi.is/cv_en.php4?ksfaerslunr=17|publisher=Secretariat of Althingi|accessdate =28 January 2009}}</ref> She enjoyed early success in her parliamentary career, serving as deputy speaker of the Althing in 1979 and in 1983–84. She was elected vice-chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1984, a post she held until 1993. She was also [[Minister of Social Affairs (Iceland)|Minister of Social Affairs]] in four separate [[Cabinet of Iceland|Cabinets]] from 1987 to 1994,<ref name="CVMinistry"/> when she left the Social Democratic Party after losing the leadership contest to form a new party ''[[Þjóðvaki]]'' (variously translated as "Awakening of the Nation" or the "National Movement"); the two parties remerged in 2000 to form the present [[Social Democratic Alliance]]. Her 1994 declaration ''Minn tími mun koma!'' ("My time will come!"), after she lost the contest for the leadership of the Social Democratic party, has become an iconic phrase in the [[Icelandic language]].<ref name="Indy">{{citation|title = World gets its first gay leader|url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/world-gets-its-first-gay-leader-1519068.html|work=The Independent |location=UK |date = 29 January 2009|author=Peter Popham}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{citation|title = Profile: Johanna Sigurdardottir|url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/30/johanna-sigurdardottir-profile|author=Valur Gunnarsson|date = 30 January 2009|work=The Guardian |location=UK }}</ref>


From 1994 to 2003, she was an active member of the opposition in the Althing, serving on numerous parliamentary committees. After the [[Icelandic parliamentary election, 2003|2003 elections]], in which she stood in the Reykjavík South constituency (after the split of the old Reykjavík constituency), she was re-elected deputy speaker of the Althing. The [[Icelandic parliamentary election, 2007|2007 elections]], in which she stood in the Reykjavík North constituency, saw the return of the Social Democratic Alliance to government in coalition with the [[Independence Party (Iceland)|Independence Party]], and Jóhanna was named [[Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security (Iceland)|Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security]].<ref name="CVAlthingi" />
From 1994 to 2003, she was an active member of the opposition in the Althing, serving on numerous parliamentary committees. After the [[Icelandic parliamentary election, 2003|2003 elections]], in which she stood in the Reykjavík South constituency (after the split of the old Reykjavík constituency), she was re-elected deputy speaker of the Althing. The [[Icelandic parliamentary election, 2007|2007 elections]], in which she stood in the Reykjavík North constituency, saw the return of the Social Democratic Alliance to government in coalition with the [[Independence Party (Iceland)|Independence Party]], and Jóhanna was named [[Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security (Iceland)|Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security]].<ref name="CVAlthingi" />

Revision as of 18:22, 6 December 2011

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Jóhanna.
Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
Prime Minister of Iceland
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 February 2009
PresidentÓlafur Ragnar Grímsson
Preceded byGeir Haarde
Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security
In office
24 May 2007 – 1 February 2009
Prime MinisterGeir Haarde
Preceded byMagnús Stefánsson (Social Affairs)
Siv Friðleifsdóttir (Health and Social Security)
Succeeded byÁsta Ragnheiður Jóhannesdóttir
In office
8 July 1987 – 24 June 1994
Prime MinisterÞorsteinn Pálsson
Steingrímur Hermannsson
Davíð Oddsson
Preceded byAlexander Stefánsson
Succeeded byGuðmundur Árni Stefánsson
Personal details
Born (1942-10-04) 4 October 1942 (age 82)
Reykjavík, Iceland
Political partySocial Democratic Alliance (2000–present)
Other political
affiliations		Social Democratic Party (1978–1994)
Awakening of the Nation (1994–2000)
Spouse(s)Þorvaldur Steinar Jóhannesson (1970–1987)
Jónína Leósdóttir (2002–present)
Children2 sons
1 stepson
ProfessionFlight attendant
Trade unionist

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir[1] (pronounced [jo͡uːhanːa ˈsɪːɣʏrðarto͡uʰtɪr]), (born 4 October 1942), is the Prime Minister of Iceland. Many years a politician, she was previously Iceland's Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security from 1987–1994 and 2007–2009. She has been a member of the Althing (Iceland's parliament) for Reykjavík constituencies since 1978, winning re-election on eight successive occasions. She became Iceland's first female Prime Minister and the world's first openly lesbian head of government on 1 February 2009.[2][3]

Jóhanna is a social democrat and Iceland's longest-serving member of Parliament. In the 1990s, when she lost a bid to head the party, she lifted her fist and declared "Minn tími mun koma!" ("My time will come!"), a phrase that became a popular Icelandic expression.[4][5] In 2009, Forbes listed her among the 100 Most Powerful Women in the world.[6]

Education and early career

Jóhanna was born in Reykjavík and studied at the Commercial College of Iceland, a vocational high school operated by the Chamber of Commerce. After graduating with her commercial diploma in 1960, she worked as a flight attendant with Loftleiðir (a predecessor of Icelandair) and as an office worker. She was active in the trade union movement from early in her professional life, presiding over the Board of the Icelandic Cabin Crew Association in 1966 and 1969 and over the Board of Svölurnar, Association of Former Stewardesses in 1975. She was also a member of the Board of the Commercial Workers' Union from 1976 to 1983.[7]

Political caree

fat mama was elected to the Althing in 1978 on the list of the Social Democratic Party for the Reykjavík constituency.[8] She enjoyed early success in her parliamentary career, serving as deputy speaker of the Althing in 1979 and in 1983–84. She was elected vice-chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1984, a post she held until 1993. She was also Minister of Social Affairs in four separate Cabinets from 1987 to 1994,[7] when she left the Social Democratic Party after losing the leadership contest to form a new party Þjóðvaki (variously translated as "Awakening of the Nation" or the "National Movement"); the two parties remerged in 2000 to form the present Social Democratic Alliance. Her 1994 declaration Minn tími mun koma! ("My time will come!"), after she lost the contest for the leadership of the Social Democratic party, has become an iconic phrase in the Icelandic language.[4][5]

From 1994 to 2003, she was an active member of the opposition in the Althing, serving on numerous parliamentary committees. After the 2003 elections, in which she stood in the Reykjavík South constituency (after the split of the old Reykjavík constituency), she was re-elected deputy speaker of the Althing. The 2007 elections, in which she stood in the Reykjavík North constituency, saw the return of the Social Democratic Alliance to government in coalition with the Independence Party, and Jóhanna was named Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security.[8]

Prime Minister

On 26 January 2009, Prime Minister Geir Haarde tendered the resignation of the coalition government to the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.[9][10] The move followed fourteen weeks of protests over the government's handling of the financial crisis, protests which had intensified from 20 January.

After talks with the leaders of the five parties represented in the Althing, the President asked the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement to form a new government and to prepare for elections in the spring.[11]

Jóhanna was proposed as Prime Minister for the new government, among other things because of her popularity among the general public and her good relations with the Left-Green Movement. An opinion poll by Capacent Gallup in December 2008 found 73% approval of her actions as a minister, more than any other member of the Cabinet: she was also the only minister to have improved her approval ratings over 2008.[12]

The new government needed the support of the Progressive Party in the Althing.[citation needed] Negotiations continued up to the evening of 31 January, and the new Cabinet was appointed on 1 February. Independent polling showed that Jóhanna and Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, leader of the Left-Green Movement, the other party in the coalition government, enjoyed considerable support outside their own parties.[13]

On 25 April 2009, a parliamentary election was held in Iceland,[14] following strong pressure from the public as a result of the Icelandic financial crisis.[15] The Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement, which formed the outgoing coalition government under Jóhanna, both made gains and now together have an overall majority of seats in the Althing (Iceland's parliament). The Progressive Party also made gains, and the new Citizens' Movement, formed after the January 2009 protests, gained four seats. The Independence Party, which had been in power for eighteen years until January 2009, lost a third of its support and nine seats in the Althing. On 10 May 2009, the new government was announced, with Jóhanna staying on as Prime Minister.[16]

In 2010, after her government banned strip clubs, paying for nudity in restaurants, and other means of employers profiting from employees' nudity, Jóhanna said "The Nordic countries are leading the way on women's equality, recognizing women as equal citizens rather than commodities for sale."[17]

Personal life

Jóhanna married Þorvaldur Steinar Jóhannesson in 1970[18] and the couple had two sons (born 1972 and 1977).

After their divorce, she joined in a civil union with Jónína Leósdóttir (born 1954), an author and playwright, in 2002.[4][5][7] In 2010, when same-sex marriage was legalised in Iceland, Jóhanna and Jónína changed their civil union into a marriage, thus becoming one of the first same-sex married couples in Iceland.[19]

References

  1. ^ This name is usually spelled in English-language press as Johanna Sigurdardottir.
  2. ^ Moody, Jonas (30 January 2009). "Iceland Picks the World's First Openly Gay PM". Time. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  3. ^ "First gay PM for Iceland cabinet". BBC News. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Peter Popham (29 January 2009), "World gets its first gay leader", The Independent, UK
  5. ^ a b c Valur Gunnarsson (30 January 2009), "Profile: Johanna Sigurdardottir", The Guardian, UK
  6. ^ "The 100 Most Powerful Women". Forbes.
  7. ^ a b c Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Prime Minister's Office, retrieved 2 February 2009
  8. ^ a b Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Secretariat of Althingi, retrieved 28 January 2009
  9. ^ Prime Minister Formally Tenders Government's Resignation, Prime Minister's Office, 26 January 2009
  10. ^ Iceland's coalition government resigns, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 January 2009
  11. ^ New Icelandic government under negotiation, IceNews, 27 January 2009
  12. ^ Sigurdardóttir Ready to Become Iceland's PM, Iceland Review, 27 January 2009
  13. ^ "New Icelandic government still popular". IceNews. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  14. ^ Kosningar 9. maí og Geir hættir, RÚV, 23 January 2009. Template:Is icon
  15. ^ Iceland announces early election, BBC News, 23 January 2009
  16. ^ "Iceland Review Online: Daily News from Iceland, Current Affairs, Business, Politics, Sports, Culture". Icelandreview.com. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  17. ^ Sirota, David (26 March 2010). "Iceland's stripping ban – Broadsheet". Salon.com. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  18. ^ "Alþingi – Æviágrip: Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir" (in Icelandic). 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2009. M. 1. (28. febr. 1970) Þorvaldur Steinar Jóhannesson (f. 3. mars 1944) bankastarfsmaður í Reykjavík. Þau skildu.
  19. ^ [1], [2]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Social Affairs
1987–1994 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister of Social Affairs Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security
2007–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister of Health and Social Security
Preceded by Prime Minister of Iceland
2009–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Social Democratic Alliance
2009–present 		Incumbent

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