The youngest president of Iceland in 2016 was the historian, teacher and translator Gvyudni Thorlasius Johannesson. On June 26, the leader of the state turned 49 years old. During his tenure, the politician distinguished himself by a statement about a possible ban on pineapples on pizza, jokingly said at a meeting with schoolchildren, and by the fact that he managed to break his nose while taking water procedures. As can be understood from these two incidents, the social and political situation in Iceland is unusually calm.
Short biography
The future president of Iceland was born to Johannes Samundsson and Margrata Thorlatius in Reykjavik, in 1968. In his youth, he was involved in handball, playing semi-professionally with his brother Patrick. Gyudni Johannesson received two higher educations: in 1987 he graduated from the local university and received a bachelor's degree in history and political science; in 1991 he became a graduate of the University of Warwick, where he studied in the same speci alty. The future president of Iceland completed his master's degree in 1997 at the University of Iceland and in 1999 at Oxford. Gwydni Johannesson received his PhD in history from Queen Mary University in London.
BeforeAt the beginning of his political career, he worked as a lecturer at several universities: in Reykjavik, London, Bifrest. The future politician and scientific activity was actively engaged. Gvydni Johannesson is an expert on the financial crisis in Iceland that occurred in 2008-2011, as well as on the "Cod Wars" - a diplomatic conflict between the united kingdom and Iceland, which repeatedly turned into a military phase. He also recorded the memoirs of former Icelandic presidents Kristjaun Eldjaudn and Gunnar Thoroddsen.
In early May 2016, Gyudni Johannesson became a presidential candidate. He won the election with a score of 39.1% of the vote. The political leader is skeptical of the European Union and is not a member of any party. He repeatedly spoke approvingly of the UK's exit from the European Union, promised voters a "non-politicized presidency" and the introduction of universal referendums.
At the time of taking office, the President of Iceland, Gvyudni Johannesson, had a very high rating - 97.3%.
President's family
Gvyudni Johannesson, as mentioned above, was born in the family of Johannes Samundsson (the president's father passed away in 1983 at the age of 42) and Margrata Torlatius. His father worked as a handball coach, his mother is a journalist and teacher. Has two brothers: Patrick (born 1972) plays handball and develops a coaching career, John works as an engineer. The wife of the President of Iceland is Eliza Reid. The marriage produced four children. ExceptIn addition, Gvyudni Johannesson also has a daughter from his first marriage.
Interesting facts
The President of Iceland studied Russian and German as a student. Since childhood, Gyudni Johannesson has been a fan of the Manchester United club and often attends matches in Iceland, including abroad. At Iceland's match against Kosovo in October 2017, the President was in the usual podium among the same fans as he was.
