The youngest president of Iceland in 2016 was the historian, teacher and translator of Gwudni Torlasius Johannesson. On June 26, the state leader turned 49 years old. During his tenure, the politician distinguished himself with a statement about a possible ban on pineapple in pizza, said as a joke at a meeting with schoolchildren, and that he managed to break his nose while taking water procedures. As can be understood already from these two incidents, the social and political situation in Iceland is unusually calm.
short biography
The future president of Iceland was born into the family of Johannes Samundsson and Margrata Torlacius in Reykjavik, in 1968. In his youth, he played handball, played semi-professionally with his brother Patrick. Gwudni Johannesson received two higher educations: in 1987 he graduated from a local university and received a bachelor's degree in history and political science; in 1991 he graduated from the University of Warwick, where he studied in the same specialty. The future president of Iceland graduated from the University of Iceland in 1997 and in Oxford in 1999. Gwudni Johannesson holds a Ph.D. in History from Queen Mary University in London.
Before the start of his political career, he worked as a teacher at several universities: in Reykjavik, in London, Beefrest. He was actively involved in future politics and scientific activities. Gwudni Johannesson is an expert on the financial crisis in Iceland, which occurred in 2008-2011, as well as on the "Cod Wars" - the diplomatic conflict between the united kingdom and Iceland, which repeatedly went into the military phase. He also recorded memoirs of the former presidents of Iceland, Kristiaun Eldyaudna and Gunnar Toroddsen.
At the beginning of May 2016, Gwudni Johannesson became a presidential candidate. He won the election with a result of 39.1% of the vote. The political leader is skeptical of the European Union, and he is not a member of any party. He repeatedly spoke out approvingly about Britain’s exit from the European Union, promised voters a “non-politicized presidency” and the introduction of general referenda.
At the time of taking office, the President of Iceland, Gwudni Johannesson, had a very high rating of 97.3%.
President's family
Gwudni Johannesson, as mentioned above, was born into the family of Johannes Samundsson (the president’s father passed away in 1983 at the age of 42) and Margrata Torlacius. My father worked as a handball coach, mother - journalist, teacher. He 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. Four children were born in the marriage. In addition, Gwudni Johannesson also has a daughter from her first marriage.
Interesting Facts
The President of Iceland during his student years studied Russian and German. Since childhood, Gwudni Johannesson has been a fan of the Manchester United club, and often attends matches in Iceland, including abroad. At the match of Iceland against Kosovo in October 2017, the president was on an ordinary platform among the same fans as he.