Bjarni Benediktsson (born 1970) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bjarni Benediktsson
Bjarni in 2023
27th Prime Minister of Iceland
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 April 2024
President	Guðni Th. Jóhannesson Halla Tómasdóttir (elect)
Preceded by	Katrín Jakobsdóttir
In office 11 January 2017 – 30 November 2017
President	Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
Preceded by	Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson
Succeeded by	Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office 14 October 2023 – 9 April 2024
Prime Minister	Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Preceded by	Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir
Succeeded by	Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir
Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs
In office 30 November 2017 – 14 October 2023
Prime Minister	Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Preceded by	Benedikt Jóhannesson
Succeeded by	Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir
In office 23 May 2013 – 11 January 2017
Prime Minister	Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson
Preceded by	Katrín Júlíusdóttir
Succeeded by	Benedikt Jóhannesson
Leader of the Independence Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 March 2009
Preceded by	Geir Haarde
Personal details
Born	(1970-01-26) 26 January 1970 (age 54) Reykjavík, Iceland
Political party	Independence Party
Spouse	Þóra Margrét Baldvinsdóttir
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Iceland University of Miami
Nickname	Bjarni Ben

Bjarni Benediktsson (born 26 January 1970), known colloquially as Bjarni Ben, is an Icelandic politician, who is serving as prime minister of Iceland since April 2024, and previously from January to November 2017. He has been the leader of the Icelandic Independence Party since 2009, and served as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from 2013 to 2017, a post he later retained under Katrín Jakobsdóttir and held until his resignation in October 2023. After serving briefly as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bjarni became the current Prime Minister of Iceland on 9 April 2024.

Bjarni is popularly referred to as a "teflon" politician due to managing to retain his position as one of Iceland's most powerful politicians despite his frequent involvement in political scandals.

Early life and education

Bjarni was born in Reykjavík. His great uncle was the former prime minister of Iceland of the same name, Bjarni Benediktsson.

After obtaining a law degree at the University of Iceland, Bjarni went on to learn German and law at the Goethe-Institut and University of Freiburg respectively in Germany from 1995 to 1996. In the following year he would attend the University of Miami in the United States, where he earned a LL.M. degree. He then returned to Iceland, working as an attorney.

See also

In Spanish: Bjarni Benediktsson (1970) para niños