:Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín graduated from the University of Iceland in 1999 with a bachelor's degree, with a major in Icelandic and a minor in French.{{cite web |last1=Brandsma |first1=Elliott |title=Education is Our Best Investment |url=http://studentabladid.com/efni/2015/3/7/education-is-our-best-investment |website=Stúdentablaðið |date=7 March 2015 |publisher=University of Iceland |access-date=15 September 2021}}

She went on to complete a Master of Arts degree in Icelandic literature at the University of Iceland in 2004, for a thesis on the work of popular Icelandic crime writer Arnaldur Indriðason.

Katrín worked part-time as a language adviser at the news agency at public broadcaster RÚV from 1999 to 2003. She then freelanced for broadcast media, and wrote for a variety of print media from 2004 to 2006, as well as being an instructor in life-long learning and leisure at the Mímir School from 2004 to 2007. She did editorial work for the publishing company Edda and magazine JPV from 2005 to 2006, and was a lecturer at the University of Iceland, Reykjavík University, and Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík from 2006 to 2007.{{cite web |title=Katrín Jakobsdóttir |url=https://www.althingi.is/altext/cv/is/?nfaerslunr=690 |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=Alþingi (in Icelandic)}}

Katrín became deputy chairwoman of the Left-Green Movement in 2003, before she became the chairperson in 2013 which she served until 2024.

She has been a member of the Alþingi for the Reykjavík North constituency since 2007.

Katrín was Iceland's minister of education, science, and culture, and of Nordic cooperation from 2 February 2009 to 23 May 2013.

{{See also|First cabinet of Katrín Jakobsdóttir|Second cabinet of Katrín Jakobsdóttir}}

File:Secretary Blinken Meets with Icelandic Prime Minister Jakobsdottir (51188964664).jpg Antony J. Blinken in Reykjavík in May 2021]]

File:Pääministeri Sanna Marin tapasi Islannin pääministeri Katrín Jakobsdóttir tapasivat Kesärannassa 12.4.2022 (51999461448).jpg at Kesäranta in Helsinki in April 2022]]

File:P061082-68210.jpg in Reykjavík in May 2023]]

File:P20230713AS-0861 (53234990393).jpg and other Nordic leaders in Helsinki in July 2023]]

Before becoming Prime Minister, Katrín was chairperson of the Left-Green Movement.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/europe/iceland-prime-minister-katrin-jakobsdottir.html|title=An Environmentalist Is Iceland's New Prime Minister|last=Martyn-Hemphill|first=Richard|date=30 November 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=20 July 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} In the wake of the 2017 Icelandic parliamentary election, President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson tasked her with forming a governing coalition to consist of the Left-Green Movement, the Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Alliance, and the Pirate Party.{{cite news|title=Katrín komin með umboðið|url=http://www.mbl.is/frettir/kosning/2017/11/02/katrin_komin_med_umbodid/|newspaper=Morgunblaðið|date=2 November 2017|access-date=2 November 2017}} Coalition talks between the four parties formally began on 3 November 2017,{{cite news|author=Sigurður Bogi Sævarsson|title=Málefnunum skipt í tvennt|url=http://www.mbl.is/frettir/kosning/2017/11/03/malefnunum_skipt_i_tvennt/|newspaper=Morgunblaðið|date=3 November 2017|access-date=3 November 2017}} but were unsuccessful because of Progressive Party concerns that her coalition would have too thin a majority.{{cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/icelands-leftist-parties-fail-form-government-200734942.html |access-date=13 November 2017 |title=Iceland's leftist parties fail to form government |date=6 November 2017 |newspaper=Yahoo/AFP |archive-date=13 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113114327/https://www.yahoo.com/news/icelands-leftist-parties-fail-form-government-200734942.html |url-status=dead }} As a result, Katrín sought to lead a three-party coalition with the Independence Party and Progressive Party. After coalition talks were completed, President Guðni formally granted her a mandate to lead the government, which was installed on 30 November.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42175628 |title=Iceland's Left-Green leader Jakobsdóttir becomes new PM |work=BBC News |date=30 November 2017 |access-date=30 November 2017 }}{{cite news|author=Jón Pétur Jónsson|title=Katrín fær stjórnarmyndunarumboðið|url=http://www.mbl.is/frettir/kosning/2017/11/28/katrin_faer_stjornarmyndunarumbodid/|newspaper=Morgunblaðið|language=is|date=28 November 2017|access-date=28 November 2017}}

Political analysts note that Katrín Jakobsdóttir's government has been able to maintain stability through a coalition comprising the Left-Green Movement, the Progressive Party, and the Independence Party. This stability has been attributed to a balanced approach that incorporates different political perspectives, including a focus on regional support and primary industries as well as a cautious stance on European integration.{{Cite journal|last1=Hardarson|first1=Ólafur Th|last2=Kristinsson|first2=Gunnar Helgi|title=Iceland: Political Developments and Data in 2018|journal=European Journal of Political Research Political Data Yearbook|year=2019|volume=58|language=en|pages=132–135|doi=10.1111/2047-8852.12267|s2cid=214060768|issn=2047-8852}}

As Prime Minister, Katrín has implemented a range of policies aimed at social betterment. These include making the tax system more progressive, investing in social housing, extending parental leave, and taking steps to reduce gender pay inequality. To maintain coalition stability, she has also made some compromises{{Dubious|date=April 2024}}, such as forgoing the establishment of a national park in the country's centre.{{cite news|date=26 September 2021|title=Législatives en Islande: plus de 47 % de femmes parmi les nouveaux élus|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2021/09/26/legislatives-en-islande-la-premiere-ministre-sur-un-fil_6096040_3210.html|work=Le Monde|language=fr|access-date=3 November 2021}}

By September 2021, nearly four years after taking office, Katrín's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic received positive reviews.{{cn|date=April 2024}} While Iceland's small size and geographical isolation may have contributed to its relatively low death toll, the country's proactive measures under her guidance were also a factor.{{cite news|date=23 September 2021|title=L'Islande aux urnes avec un casse-tête politique en vue|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/europe/islande/l-islande-aux-urnes-avec-un-casse-tete-politique-en-vue-f3e2d6d0-1c2c-11ec-8571-c38f4674d541|work=Ouest-France|language=fr|access-date=3 November 2021}} Tourism was reintroduced cautiously, although there was a subsequent increase in COVID-19 cases.

In the 2021 parliamentary elections, the Left-Green Movement lost three of its 11 seats in the Parliament, but the coalition government still retained its majority. Negotiations among the coalition parties subsequently began to renew their agreement. Polls taken in the aftermath of the election showed a significant majority of Icelanders supported Katrín's continued role in government.{{cite magazine|last=Fontaine|first=Andie Sophia|date=13 October 2021|title=Poll: Largest Share Of Those Polled Want Katrín Jakobsdóttir To Continue As Prime Minister|url=https://grapevine.is/news/2021/10/13/poll-largest-share-of-those-polled-want-katrin-jakobsdottir-to-continue-as-prime-minister/|magazine=The Reykjavík Grapevine|language=en|access-date=3 November 2021}}

In October 2023, she gained international attention for going on strike with women and non-binary people in calling for pay equality and action against gender-based violence. The strike is also the first of its kind since 1975.{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/23/icelands-first-full-day-womens-strike-in-48-years-aims-to-close-pay-gap | title = Iceland's first full-day women's strike in 48 years aims to close pay gap | work = The Guardian | date = 23 October 2023 | access-date = 25 October 2023}}

On 9 April 2024, Katrín resigned as prime minister and chairperson of the Left-Green Movement and ran for the presidency of Iceland.{{cite news |title=Katrín Jakobsdóttir býður sig fram til forseta |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2024-04-05-katrin-jakobsdottir-bydur-sig-fram-til-forseta-409293 |access-date=5 April 2024 |work=RÚV |date=5 April 2024 |language=Icelandic}} She came in second place behind Halla Tómasdóttir and received 25.1% percent of votes cast.{{Cite web |last=Guðmundsson |first=Brynjólfur Þór |date=2024-06-02 |title=Halla Tómasdóttir verður sjöundi forseti Íslands - RÚV.is |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/414647 |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=RÚV}} Katrín said she does not plan to run for the presidency again and will not go back into politics.{{Cite web |last=Magnúsdóttir |first=Ásta Hlín |date=2024-06-02 |title=Katrín játar ósigur - RÚV.is |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/414575 |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=RÚV}}

Katrín opposes Icelandic membership of NATO, but as part of the compromise between the Left-Greens and their coalition partners, the government does not intend to withdraw from NATO or hold a referendum on NATO membership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-44172082/iceland-pm-on-equal-pay-it-doesn-t-just-happen-by-sitting-and-waiting|title=Iceland PM: Equality requires clear policy|work=BBC News|language=en|access-date=7 May 2019}} Katrín also opposes Iceland joining the European Union (EU).{{Cite web|url=https://www.visir.is/g/2017171029535|title=Þjóðaratkvæðagreiðsla um Evrópusambandsaðild ekki forgangsmál hjá Vinstri grænum|website=Vísir|date=23 October 2017 |language=is|access-date=7 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mbl.is/frettir/kosning/2017/10/17/ossur_segir_kjosendur_vg_vilja_i_esb/|title=Össur segir kjósendur VG vilja í ESB|website=mbl.is|language=is|access-date=7 May 2019}} The coalition government did not hold a referendum on restarting Iceland's accession negotiations with the EU.

Katrín is married to Gunnar Sigvaldason, has three sons (born 2005, 2007, and 2011). Her father, Jakob Ármannsson, was an educator and banker and her mother, Signý Thoroddsen, was a psychologist.

She hails from a family which has produced many prominent people in Icelandic politics, academia, and literature. She is the younger sister of twin brothers Ármann Jakobsson and Sverrir Jakobsson, who are both professors in the humanities at the University of Iceland. Katrín is the great-granddaughter of the politician and judge Skúli Thoroddsen and the poet Theodóra Thoroddsen. Her maternal grandfather was an engineer and MP Sigurður S. Thoroddsen. The poet Dagur Sigurðarson is her maternal uncle.

Her debut crime novel "Reykjavík: A Crime Story," co-written with best-selling Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson, was published in October 2022,{{Cite news |last=Henley |first=Jon |date=2022-10-28 |title=‘It’s a therapeutic genre for me’: Iceland’s PM releases debut crime novel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/28/iceland-pm-releases-novel-reykjavik-katrin-jakobsdottir |access-date=2024-12-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}[https://www.inspiredbyiceland.com/culture/prime-minister-by-day Prime Minister by Day, Noir Writer by Night] with an English translation published in September 2023.[https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/454655/reykjavik-by-jakobsdottir-ragnar-jonasson-and-katrin/9780241625996 Reykjavík][https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250907332/reykjavik Reykjavík]

File:Nicola Sturgeon meets Icelandic Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir.jpg Nicola Sturgeon at Bute House in Edinburgh, 2019|265x265px]]

Katrín has been a member of the following international organizations or 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)

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• [http://www.nordiclabourjournal.org/artikler/portrett/portrait-2013-1/article.2013-03-07.6574746006/ Nordic Labour Journal: Katrín Jakobsdóttir - party leader during times of change]
• {{Twitter|katrinjak}}

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{{Prime Ministers of Iceland}}

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Category:1976 births

Category:21st-century women prime ministers

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Category:Linguistics writers

Category:Living people

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Category:Women prime ministers in Europe