Katrín Jakobsdóttir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katrín Jakobsdóttir
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Katrín in 2023
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| Prime Minister of Iceland | |
| In office 30 November 2017 – 9 April 2024 |
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| President | Guðni Th. Jóhannesson |
| Preceded by | Bjarni Benediktsson |
| Succeeded by | Bjarni Benediktsson |
| Chair of the Left-Green Movement | |
| In office 24 February 2013 – 5 April 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Steingrímur J. Sigfússon |
| Succeeded by | Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson |
| Minister of Education, Science and Culture | |
| In office 2 February 2009 – 23 May 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir |
| Preceded by | Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir |
| Succeeded by | Illugi Gunnarsson |
| Member of the Althing | |
| In office 12 May 2007 – 8 April 2024 |
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| Constituency | Reykjavík North |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 February 1976 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Political party | Left-Green Movement |
| Spouse | Gunnar Sigvaldason |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Iceland (BA, MA) |
Katrín Jakobsdóttir (born 1 February 1976) is an Icelandic former politician. She served as the prime minister of Iceland from December 2017 to April 2024. She was also a member of the Althing, Iceland's parliament, representing the Reykjavík North area from 2007 to 2024.
Katrín studied at the University of Iceland. She became a leader in the Left-Green Movement political party. She was their deputy chairperson in 2003 and then chairperson from 2013 until 2024. She also served as Iceland's Minister of Education, Science, and Culture from 2009 to 2013. Katrín was the second woman to become prime minister of Iceland.
Many people in Iceland consider Katrín to be one of the most popular politicians in the country's history. In 2015, a poll showed that 59% of people trusted her the most. During her time as prime minister, she had very high approval ratings. In April 2024, she left her role as prime minister to run for president of Iceland. She came in second place in that election.
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Learning and Degrees
Katrín finished her first university degree in 1999 at the University of Iceland. She studied Icelandic language and also French.
In 2004, she earned a master's degree in Icelandic Literature from the same university. For her master's project, she wrote about the books of a popular Icelandic crime writer named Arnaldur Indriðason.
Before Politics
Before becoming a full-time politician, Katrín had several jobs. From 1999 to 2003, she worked part-time as a language adviser for the news agency at RÚV, which is Iceland's public TV and radio broadcaster.
She also worked as a freelance writer for different media from 2004 to 2006. She taught classes at the Mímir School during this time. Katrín also did editing work for a publishing company and a magazine. From 2006 to 2007, she was a teacher at the University of Iceland and other schools.
Political Journey
Katrín started her political journey as the deputy leader of the Left-Green Movement in 2003. She then became the main leader of the party in 2013 and held that position until 2024.
She was elected to the Alþingi, Iceland's parliament, in 2007. She represented the Reykjavík North area.
From 2009 to 2013, Katrín was Iceland's Minister of Education, Science, and Culture. She also worked on cooperation with other Nordic countries during this time.
Prime Minister of Iceland
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After the 2017 election, Katrín was asked to form a new government. She worked to bring different political parties together. On 30 November 2017, she officially became the Prime Minister of Iceland.
Experts say that Katrín's government was very stable. This was because she managed to get different parties to work together. Her government focused on supporting different parts of Iceland and being careful about joining the European Union.
As Prime Minister, Katrín introduced many new policies to help people. These included making the tax system fairer and investing in affordable housing. She also worked to extend parental leave and reduce the difference in pay between men and women.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Katrín's leadership was seen as very good. Iceland had a low number of deaths from the virus. This was partly because Iceland is a small island, but also because of the strong actions her government took.
In the 2021 elections, her party lost some seats, but her government still had enough support to continue. Many Icelanders wanted her to stay in charge.
In October 2023, Katrín gained international attention. She joined a strike with women and non-binary people in Iceland. They were calling for equal pay and action against violence based on gender. This was the first strike of its kind in Iceland since 1975.
After Being Prime Minister
On 9 April 2024, Katrín stepped down as prime minister and as leader of her party. She then ran for the presidency of Iceland. She finished second in the election.
Katrín has said she does not plan to run for president again or return to politics. She now works as a special representative for the Arctic Circle. She also leads a group called the Polar Dialogue. Katrín is also the head of a European committee focused on climate and health.
Views on Politics
Katrín does not support Iceland joining NATO, a military alliance. However, her government did not try to leave NATO. She also does not want Iceland to join the European Union (EU). Her government did not hold a public vote on restarting talks about joining the EU.
Personal Life
Katrín is married to Gunnar Sigvaldason. They have three sons, born in 2005, 2007, and 2011. Her father was an educator and banker, and her mother was a psychologist.
Katrín comes from a family with many well-known people in Icelandic politics, education, and literature. Her twin brothers, Ármann Jakobsson and Sverrir Jakobsson, are both university professors. Her great-grandparents were the politician and judge Skúli Thoroddsen and the poet Theodóra Thoroddsen.
In October 2022, Katrín published her first crime novel. It is called "Reykjavík: A Crime Story." She wrote it with a famous Icelandic author, Ragnar Jónasson. An English version of the book was published in September 2023.
Working with Other Countries
Katrín has been part of several international groups and committees:
- Icelandic team for the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (since 2017)
- Icelandic team for the EFTA and EEA Parliamentary Committees (2014–2016)
- EU-Iceland joint Parliamentary Committee (Deputy Chair 2014–2016)
- Icelandic team for the West Nordic Council (2013–2014)
See also
In Spanish: Katrín Jakobsdóttir para niños
