Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson

Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson (Icelandic pronunciation: [kvʏðlœyɣʏr̥ θouːr̥ θourðar̥son]; born 19 December 1967) is an Icelandic politician who has been serving as Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate since 28 November 2021.[1]

Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson
Guðlaugur in 2021
Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate
Assumed office
28 November 2021
Prime MinisterKatrín Jakobsdóttir
Bjarni Benediktsson
Preceded byGuðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
11 January 2017 – 28 November 2021
Prime MinisterBjarni Benediktsson
Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Preceded byLilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir
Succeeded byÞórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir
Minister for Health
In office
24 May 2007 – 1 February 2009
Prime MinisterGeir Haarde
Preceded bySiv Friðleifsdóttir (Health and Social Security)
Succeeded byÖgmundur Jónasson
Personal details
Born (1967-12-19) 19 December 1967 (age 56)
Reykjavík, Iceland
Political partyIndependence
SpouseÁgústa Johnson
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Iceland

Early life and education

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Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson graduated with a BA degree in Political Sciences from the University of Iceland in 1996.[2]

Political career

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Guðlaugur started his involvement in the Independence party in 1987 when he was elected on the board of the National Youth Organisation of the Independence Party in which he served until 1997 of which he was vice chairman 1989–1993 and chairman 1993–1997. He was then elected on the Reykjavík City Council in 1998 and sat two four-year terms there. He sat on the parliamentary committee on welfare issues 2003–2006, the committee on fisheries 2003–2007, and the committee on the environment 2003–2007 (chairman 2004–2007).[citation needed]

He has been a member of the Althing (Iceland's parliament) for the Independence Party since 2003 and served as the Minister of Health from 24 May 2007 to 1 February 2009.

 
Guðlaugur meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Reykjavik in May 2021.

Guðlaugur represented Reykjavík North 2003–2009, then switched to Reykjavík South for the 2009 elections before returning to Reykjavík North in 2013, where he has topped the party list for the last three elections. In the party primary in 2006 he defeated then Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs Björn Bjarnason for the top spot in Reykjavík North.

He has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs since 11 January 2017.[citation needed]

Guðlaugur opposes Icelandic membership of the European Union.[3][4] He is strongly supportive of Iceland's membership of the European Economic Area, describing the benefits as substantial.[5][6]

Personal life

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He is married and has four children.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Second Government of Katrín Jakobsdóttir Takes Office, Government of Iceland, 2021
  2. ^ a b Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2017
  3. ^ "Utanríkisráðherra: Ísland vill ekki gerast aðili að Evrópusambandinu". Stundin. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. ^ olofr (23 September 2018). "Getum aðstoðað Breta við mótun fiskveiðistefnu". RÚV. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Varaði við "erlendri einangrunarhyggju"". mbl.is. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Alþjóðasamvinna á Krossgötum: Hvert stefnir Ísland? |". ams.hi.is. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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Political offices
Preceded byas Minister of Health and Social Security Minister for Health
2007–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Foreign Affairs
2017–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate
2021–present
Incumbent