Bjarni Benediktsson (born 1970)
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| Bjarni Benediktsson | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs | |
| Assumed office 23 May 2013 |
|
| Prime Minister | Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson |
| Preceded by | Katrín Júlíusdóttir |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 January 1970 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Political party | Independence Party |
| Spouse(s) | Þóra Margrét Baldvinsdóttir |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Iceland University of Miami |
Bjarni Benediktsson (born 26 January 1970 in Reykjavík), known colloquially as Bjarni Ben, is an Icelandic politician, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs since 23 May 2013 and leader of the Icelandic Independence Party since 2009. The former Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson was his great-uncle. The media sometimes refer to them as Bjarni Benediktsson Sr and Bjarni Benediktsson Jr to differentiate between the identical names of the two politicians.
Bjarni was elected leader of the conservative Independence Party at its national convention on 29 March 2009 with 58.1 percent of the vote, about a month before the April 2009 Icelandic legislative elections.[1] The party came in second in the elections with 16 seats, nine fewer than in the previous elections. After conceding defeat on 26 April 2009, Bjarni said his party had lost the trust of voters. "We lost this time but we will win again later," he said.[2]
In the 2013 Althing elections on 28 April the Independence Party and their ally the Progressive Party each won 19 seats.[3] On 17 May 2013 Icelandic media reported that Bjarni would take up the position of Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs in a cabinet led by Progressive Party leader Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson.[4]
After obtaining a law degree at the University of Iceland, Bjarni completed his studies in Germany and the United States before returning to Iceland to work as a lawyer. He entered the national parliament in 2003 and has been active in several committees in the areas of economy and taxation, industry and foreign affairs.
As reported in 2016, Bjarni "shared what is known as 'power of attorney' over a shell company" involved in the Panama Papers.[5]
References
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- ↑ Iceland Election: Sigmundur Davíð to be Prime Minister icelandreview.com, 18 May 2013, retrieved 19 May 2013
- ↑ Ryan Chittum, Jóhannes Kr. Kristjánsson, Bastian Obermayer, Frederik Obermaier (April 4, 2016). Panama Papers: Iceland’s prime minister had offshore holdings in collapsed banks. The Irish Times. Retrieved: April 6, 2016.
External links
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Leader of the Independence Party 2009–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs 2013–present |
Incumbent |
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