Oulavur Ragnar Grimsson

Born May 14, 1943 in Isafjordur , in the family of a hairdresser. Father - Grimur Kristgeirsson ( Isl. Grímur Kristgeirsson ), mother - Svanhildur Oulafsdottir Hjartar ( Isl. Svanhildur Ólafsdóttir Hjartar ).

In 1962 he graduated from high school in Reykjavik , after which he went to study in the UK , at the University of Manchester , where in 1965 he received a bachelor 's degree in economics and political science. In 1970, he became the first Icelander to receive a Ph.D. in political science.

Since 1973, he was a professor of political science at the University of Iceland, and served as a member of Altinga . In 1984, he was one of three left-wing intellectuals who participated in a debate with Milton Friedman at the University of Iceland.

Oulavur’s political career began in 1966 , after joining the Progressive Party in Iceland’s youth organization.

Since 1970 - Doctor of Political Science, in 1971 - 1988 - taught at the University of Iceland.

In 1976, he became a member of the left-wing party "People's Union" , leading its origin from the Communist Party of Iceland . He received his first deputy mandate in 1978 , and from 1980 to 1983 he headed the parliamentary faction “People’s Union”.

In 1981 - 1984 - Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe .

In 1983-1987 - Chairman of the Executive Committee, and in 1987 - 1995 - leader of the Popular Union Party.

Popularity brought him political broadcasts on radio and television. He wrote articles in the party press. Having become one of the most recognizable politicians in the country, at that time the chairman of the People’s Union party, Oulavur Ragnar Grimsson, served as Minister of Finance in the government of Steyngrimur Hermannsson in 1988-1991. In this position, he managed to achieve a significant reduction in inflation and is considered the "father of economic stabilization."

On June 29, 1996, Olavur Ragnar Grimsson was elected the fifth President of the Republic and took office on August 1. In the election, he represented the People’s Union party. 40.9 percent of voters voted for him.

In August 2000, he automatically stayed for the next term due to the absence of other candidates.

4 years later, in 2004 , he had to compete for the presidency, but this time he won the presidential race with the result of 67.5 percent of the vote and was thus elected for a third term.

In 2008, he again stayed for the next term due to the absence of other candidates. In 2012, he was re-elected President in alternative elections for a term of 5 ^[2] .

In 2010, he became the first president in Icelandic history to veto a law passed by Alting . The law was passed under pressure from the UK and the Netherlands and concerned the return from the state budget of the debts of private Icelandic banks that went bankrupt during the 2008 financial crisis. The president refused to sign the law, and in accordance with article 26 of the Icelandic constitution, he put this issue to a referendum. According to Olavur Grimsson, “Iceland was threatened that it would become“ northern Cuba ”if it did not accept the conditions, but this option is preferable to the Northern Haiti scenario prepared by the IMF” ^[3] .

As president of Iceland, he is the grandmaster of the Order of the Icelandic Falcon .

In 2002, he visited Russia on an official visit. He was awarded the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir (II degree) of the Russian Orthodox Church .

He was married twice. With his first wife, Gwudrun Catherine Torbergsdouttir ( Isl. Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir ; August 14, 1934 - October 12, 1998 ), he met in the early 1970s . After marriage in 1974, the two twin daughters were born to the couple in 1975 - Dalla and Tinn.

Gwydrun Catherine was a very popular woman in Iceland. Rumor has it that the election of Olavure Ragnar Grimsson as president is largely due to his wife. But in 1998, the president’s family suffered misfortune - the first lady of the country died of leukemia.

After 5 years, Oulavur Grimsson decided on a second marriage. His chosen one was a native of Israel, Dorrit Moussaieff ( Isl. Dorrit Moussaieff ).

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