Guðni Th. Jóhannesson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
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Guðni in 2022
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| 6th President of Iceland | |
| In office 1 August 2016 – 1 August 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson Bjarni Benediktsson Katrín Jakobsdóttir Bjarni Benediktsson |
| Preceded by | Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson |
| Succeeded by | Halla Tómasdóttir |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson
26 June 1968 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouses |
Elín Haraldsdóttir
(m. 1995; div. 1996)Eliza Jean Reid
(m. 2004) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | University of Warwick (BA) University of Iceland (MA) St Antony's College, Oxford (MSt) Queen Mary, University of London (PhD) |
Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson (born 26 June 1968) is an Icelandic historian and politician. He served as the sixth president of Iceland from 2016 to 2024.
Before becoming president, Guðni was a professor at the University of Iceland. He is an expert in modern Icelandic history. He has written books and articles about important events like the Cod Wars and the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis. He also studied the role of the Icelandic president.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Guðni was born in Reykjavík, Iceland. His mother, Margrét Thorlacius, was a teacher and journalist. His father, Jóhannes Sæmundsson, was a sports instructor. Guðni's brother, Patrekur Jóhannesson, is a famous former Icelandic handball player. Guðni himself played handball when he was young, both in Iceland and the UK.
He finished junior college in Reykjavík in 1987. While there, he was on a team for Gettu betur, a popular Icelandic quiz show for students. Guðni went on to study history and political science. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Warwick in England in 1991. He then got a master's degree in history from the University of Iceland in 1997. Later, he earned a PhD in history from Queen Mary, University of London in 2003.
Career as a Historian
Guðni worked as a lecturer and senior lecturer (a type of professor) at the University of Iceland. He also taught at other universities. His main area of study is modern Icelandic history. He has written many books and articles on this topic.
For example, he wrote about the Cod Wars, which were disagreements over fishing rights. He also wrote about the 2008–11 Icelandic financial crisis. This was a time when Iceland's economy faced big problems. Guðni also translated four books by the famous author Stephen King into Icelandic.
Becoming President
In 2016, Guðni decided to run for president. Before this, he often appeared on TV to talk about history. This happened after the "Panama Papers" scandal. This scandal caused the prime minister of Iceland to resign. Guðni, as a historian, explained what could happen next. Many people then suggested he should run for president himself.
His ideas for the country included giving citizens more power. He wanted them to be able to ask for a public vote on laws. Early polls showed he was very popular. When the current president decided not to run again, Guðni's support grew even more. He won the election on 25 June 2016. He received 39.1% of the votes, which was the most among all candidates.
Guðni did not belong to any political party. He said he wanted to be a "less political president." He believed it was important for the small nation of Iceland to stay united.
President of Iceland
Guðni became President of Iceland on 1 August 2016. He was 48 years old, making him Iceland's youngest president. Soon after he took office, his approval ratings were very high. This means most people approved of his work. In December 2016, his approval rating was an amazing 97%. This was a record for an Icelandic politician.
One funny moment during his presidency happened in February 2017. Guðni jokingly said he would ban pineapple as a pizza topping. This comment got a lot of attention around the world!
In 2020, Guðni was re-elected as president. He won with a huge 92.2% of the votes. On 1 January 2024, he announced that he would not run for president again. His term ended on 1 August 2024.
Personal Life
Guðni was raised in the Catholic faith. However, he later chose not to be part of any organized religion. He believes strongly in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration says that all people are born free and equal. It also says they should treat each other with kindness.
Guðni's father passed away from cancer when he was 42. Guðni has two brothers: Patrekur, the handball player, and Jóhannes.
In 2004, Guðni married Canadian Eliza Jean Reid. They met while studying in the United Kingdom. They moved to Iceland in 2003. Eliza became the First Lady of Iceland when Guðni became president. Guðni and Eliza have four children together. Guðni also has a daughter from a previous marriage.
Honours
National Honours
Iceland:
Grand Master and Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon (1 August 2016)
Foreign Honours
Denmark:
Knight of the Order of the Elephant (24 January 2017).
Finland:
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (31 May 2017).
Germany:
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (12 June 2019)
Latvia:
Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (16 November 2018).
Norway:
Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (21 March 2017).
Sweden:
Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (17 January 2018).
Recipient of the Commemorative Golden Jubilee Medal of His Majesty The King (15 September 2023).
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See also
In Spanish: Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson para niños
