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 politician. She was the Prime Minister of Iceland from December 2017 to April 2024. She was also a member of the Althing (Iceland's parliament) for 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, first as deputy chairperson in 2003, then as 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. In 2024, she left her role as Prime Minister to run for President of Iceland. She came in second place in the election.
Many people in Iceland trust Katrín. She was known as one of the most popular politicians in Iceland's history. During her time as Prime Minister, she had very high approval ratings.
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Education and Studies
Katrín finished her first university degree at the University of Iceland in 1999. She studied Icelandic language and also French.
Later, in 2004, she earned a master's degree in Icelandic Literature from the same university. Her master's paper was about the books of a famous Icelandic crime writer named Arnaldur Indriðason.
Early Career
Before becoming a full-time politician, Katrín worked in different jobs. From 1999 to 2003, she was a language adviser at the news agency for RÚV, which is Iceland's public TV and radio broadcaster.
She also wrote for newspapers and magazines. She taught classes for adults and worked as an editor for a publishing company. From 2006 to 2007, she was a lecturer at several universities in Iceland.
Political Journey
Katrín started her political journey as the deputy leader of the Left-Green Movement party in 2003. She then became the main leader of the party in 2013 and held that position until 2024.
She was elected to the Althing, Iceland's parliament, in 2007. She represented the Reykjavík North area.
From 2009 to 2013, Katrín was a government minister. She was in charge of education, science, and culture for Iceland. She also worked on cooperation with other Nordic countries.
Prime Minister (2017–2024)
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After the 2017 election, Katrín was asked to form a new government. She worked to bring different political parties together to create a ruling group. She successfully formed a government with the Independence Party and the Progressive Party. This government started on November 30, 2017.
Her government was known for being stable. It brought together different political ideas, focusing on supporting local areas and important industries.
As Prime Minister, Katrín worked on many policies to improve life for people. These included making the tax system fairer, investing in affordable housing, and making parental leave longer. She also took steps to reduce the difference in pay between men and women.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Katrín's leadership received good feedback. Iceland had a relatively low number of deaths, partly because of its small size and location, but also because of the government's quick actions.
In the 2021 elections, her party lost some seats, but the government still had enough support to continue. Many Icelanders wanted Katrín to remain in charge.
In October 2023, Katrín joined a strike with women and non-binary people. They were asking for equal pay and an end to gender-based violence. This was the first strike of its kind in Iceland since 1975.
Leaving Office (2024)
On April 9, 2024, Katrín stepped down as Prime Minister and as the leader of her party. She decided to run for the President of Iceland.
She finished second in the presidential election. Katrín has said she does not plan to run for president again and will not return to politics.
Political Views
Katrín does not support Iceland joining NATO (a military alliance) or the European Union (EU). However, as part of working with other parties in government, Iceland did not leave NATO or hold a vote on joining the EU.
Family Life
Katrín is married to Gunnar Sigvaldason, and they have three sons. Her father was an educator and banker, and her mother was a psychologist.
She comes from a family with many important people in Icelandic politics, education, and literature. Her two brothers, Ármann and Sverrir Jakobsson, are both university professors. Her great-grandparents were a politician and judge, and a poet.
In 2022, Katrín wrote a crime novel called "Reykjavík: A Crime Story." She wrote it with a well-known Icelandic author, Ragnar Jónasson. The book was translated into English in 2023.
International Work
Katrín has been part of several international groups and committees:
- Icelandic Delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (since 2017)
- Icelandic Delegation to the EFTA and EEA Parliamentary Committees (2014–2016)
- EU-Iceland joint Parliamentary Committee (Deputy Chair 2014–2016)
- Icelandic delegation to the West Nordic Council (2013–2014)
Images for kids
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Katrín in 2023
See also
In Spanish: Katrín Jakobsdóttir para niños
