Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson gives the welcome speech to The Reykjavík Congress on Human Rights 2013 Norðurljós, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center (Iceland, Reykjavík, April 10th - 13th, 2013)

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
President of Iceland
Assumed office 1 August 1996
Prime Minister	Davíð Oddsson Halldór Ásgrímsson Geir Haarde Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson
Preceded by	Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
Mayor of Reykjavik
In office 27 May 1982 – 16 July 1991
Preceded by	Egill Skúli Ingibergsson
Succeeded by	Markús Örn Antonsson
Personal details
Born	17 January 1948 (age 66) Reykjavík, Iceland
Nationality	Icelandic
Political party	Independence Party

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth President of Iceland.

Biography

He was elected in the 2000 elections, re-elected for a third term in 2004, re-elected for a fourth term in 2008 and re-elected for a record fifth term in 2012. As part of the left-wing People’s Alliance, Ólafur was a Member of Althingi for Reykjavík from 1978 to 1983. During this time he was Chairman of the People’s Alliance parliamentary group from 1980 to 1983. Additionally, from 1983 to 1985 he was editor of the newspaper Þjóðviljinn. He served as the Minister of Finance from 1988 to 1991. Ólafur has identified the 2009 financial crisis, the need for a green energy revolution, and climate change as the three most pressing issues in today’s world. In relation to his efforts on these issues Ólafur has participated in the Global Creative Leadership Summit, organized by the Louise Blouin Foundation, in 2007 and 2008. He was also awarded the Louise Blouin Award for Creative and Cultural Achievement.

Education

From 1962 to 1970, he studied economics and political science at the University of Manchester; in 1970 he was the first person from Iceland to earn a PhD in political science. He became a lecturer in political science at the University of Iceland in 1970, then a Professor of Political Science at the same university in 1973. He was the University's first Professor of Political Science.

Further Information

A Welcome speech by President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, on International Responses to Human Rights Abuses The Reykjavík Congress on Human Rights 2013 Norðurljós, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center (Iceland, Reykjavík, April 10th - 13th, 2013)

External Links and References

ICD webpage and profile

<tbody> |- ! colspan="3" style="border-top: 5px solid #cccccc" | <a href="/wiki/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Parliament of the United Kingdom">Parliament of the United Kingdom</a> |- style="text-align:center;" | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Preceded by <a href="/wiki/Harry_Pursey" title="Harry Pursey">Harry Pursey</a> | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="1" | Member of Parliament for <a href="/wiki/Hull_East_(UK_Parliament_constituency)" title="Hull East (UK Parliament constituency)" class="mw-redirect">Hull East</a> <a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom_general_election,_1970" title="United Kingdom general election, 1970">1970</a>–<a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom_general_election,_2010" title="United Kingdom general election, 2010">2010</a> | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Succeeded by <a href="/wiki/Karl_Turner_(politician)" title="Karl Turner (politician)">Karl Turner</a> as Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull East |- ! colspan="3" style="border-top: 5px solid #FFBF00;" | Party political offices |- style="text-align:center;" | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Preceded by <a href="/wiki/Margaret_Beckett" title="Margaret Beckett">Margaret Beckett</a> | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="1" | <a href="/wiki/Deputy_Leader_of_the_British_Labour_Party" title="Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party" class="mw-redirect">Deputy Leader of the Labour Party</a>

1994–2007 | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Succeeded by <a href="/wiki/Harriet_Harman" title="Harriet Harman">Harriet Harman</a> |- ! colspan="3" style="border-top: 5px solid #ccccff;" | Political offices |- style="text-align:center;" | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Preceded by <a href="/wiki/John_Gummer" title="John Gummer">John Gummer</a> as <a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_the_Environment" title="Secretary of State for the Environment">Secretary of State for the Environment</a> | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="2" | <a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_the_Environment,_Transport_and_the_Regions" title="Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions">Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions</a>

1997–2001 | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Succeeded by <a href="/wiki/Margaret_Beckett" title="Margaret Beckett">Margaret Beckett</a> as <a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_Environment,_Food_and_Rural_Affairs" title="Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs">Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs</a> |- style="text-align:center;" | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Preceded by <a href="/wiki/Sir_George_Young,_6th_Baronet" title="Sir George Young, 6th Baronet">George Young</a> as <a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_Transport" title="Secretary of State for Transport">Secretary of State for Transport</a> | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Succeeded by <a href="/wiki/Stephen_Byers" title="Stephen Byers">Stephen Byers</a> as Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions |- style="text-align:center;" | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Preceded by <a href="/wiki/Michael_Heseltine" title="Michael Heseltine">Michael Heseltine</a> | width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="1" | <a href="/wiki/Deputy_Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom">Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom</a>

1997–2007

| width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Vacant

Title next held by

<a href="/wiki/Nick_Clegg" title="Nick Clegg">Nick Clegg</a>

|-

| width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Vacant

Title last held by

<a href="/wiki/Michael_Heseltine" title="Michael Heseltine">Michael Heseltine</a>

| width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="1" | <a href="/wiki/First_Secretary_of_State" title="First Secretary of State">First Secretary of State</a>

2001–2007

| width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1" | Vacant

Title next held by

<a href="/wiki/Peter_Mandelson" title="Peter Mandelson">The Lord Mandelson</a></tbody>