Jóhann Hafstein

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Jóhann Hafstein.jpg

| name = Jóhann Hafstein

| office = 18th Prime Minister of Iceland

| president = Kristján Eldjárn

| term_start = 10 July 1970

| term_end = 14 July 1971

| predecessor = Bjarni Benediktsson

| successor = Ólafur Jóhannesson

| birth_date = {{birth date|1915|9|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Akureyri, Iceland

| death_date = {{death date and age|1980|5|15|1915|9|19|df=y}}

| death_place =

| party = Independence Party

| alma_mater = University of Iceland

}}

Jóhann Hafstein (19 September 1915 – 15 May 1980) was elected to the Althingi for the Reykjavík constituency in 1946, which he represented until 1978, when he resigned due to ill health.{{cite web |title=Jóhann Hafstein |url=https://www.althingi.is/altext/cv/is/?nfaerslunr=284 |website=Alþingi |access-date=12 May 2024 |language=is}}{{cite book |title=Alþingistíðindi: Umræður |date=1979 |publisher=Alþingi |page=2711 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hvmr82-mcicC&q=J%C3%B3hann+Hafstein+%C3%9Atvegsbanki+%C3%8Dslands+%221952%22 |access-date=12 May 2024 |language=is}} Jóhann served as prime minister of Iceland from 10 July 1970 to 14 July 1971,{{cite web |title=Um ríkisstjórn |url=https://www.stjornarradid.is/rikisstjorn/sogulegt-efni/um-rikisstjorn/1970/07/10/Raduneyti-Johanns-Hafstein/ |website=www.stjornarradid.is |access-date=12 May 2024 |language=is}} for the Independence Party, following the death of prime minister Bjarni Benediktsson, his wife and their 4-year-old grandson, caused by a fire at a government summer house at Þingvellir on 10 July 1970.{{Cite news |last= |date=1970-07-11 |title=Iceland's Premier, Wife and Grandson Die in Cottage Fire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/07/11/archives/icelands-premier-wife-and-grandson-die-in-cottage-fire-icelands.html |access-date=2025-03-23 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Hafstein also become the chairman for the Independence Party immediately. Hafstein's cabinet was replaced and defeated in the 1971 parliamentary election, causing him to step down as prime minister. Hafstein stepped down as party leader in 1973 following health problems. He died on 15 May 1980 due to a long illness that had previously caused him to resign two years earlier.{{cite news |date=21 June 1980 |title=Jóhann Hafstein |url=https://timarit.is/page/3575529?iabr=on#page/n0/mode/2up/search/J%C3%B3hann%20Hafstein |access-date=12 May 2024 |work=Íslendingaþættir Tímans |issue=21}}

Hafstein was Speaker of the Lower House of the Althingi from 1959–1961 and 1962–1963. He was the CEO of the Fisheries Bank from 1952 to 1963.{{cite book |last1=Gröndal |first1=Benedikt |title=Örlög Íslands |date=1991 |publisher=Vaka-Helgafell |isbn=978-9979-2-0077-2 |page=247 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xnYlAQAAMAAJ&q=J%C3%B3hann+Hafstein+%C3%9Atvegsbanki+%C3%8Dslands+%221952%22 |access-date=12 May 2024 |language=is}} He served as Minister of Justice, Religion and Industrial Affairs, as well as handling the Health portfolio in 1961 and again in 1963–1970. He attended the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1953, 1959 and 1974.