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Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of the Althing | |
| Assumed office 25 September 2021 | |
| Constituency | Reykjavík North (2021–2024) Reykjavík South (2024–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 May 1992 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Political party | Social Democratic Alliance |
| Spouse | Anna Bergljót Gunnarsdóttir |
| Alma mater | |
Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson (born 31 May 1992) is an Icelandic journalist, politician and member of the Althing.[1] A member of the Social Democratic Alliance, he has represented Reykjavík South since November 2024.[2] He previously represented Reykjavík North from September 2021 to November 2024.[2]
Jóhann was born on 31 May 1992 in Reykjavík.[1] He is the son of composer Jóhann G. Jóhannsson and violinist Bryndís Pálsdóttir.[1][3] He grew up in the Laugarás neighbourhood of Reykjavík.[3] He wanted to be a musician and studied the piano for ten years but had difficulty reading music.[3] At the age of 12 he wrote a song titled Hvar er Guðmundur? which became a hit on the Internet and on radio.[3] He performed at concerts, singing his own songs and playing the guitar.[3] He was religious as a child but this stopped after he read the entire Bible.[3]
Jóhann graduated from Reykjavík High School (MR) in 2012.[1] He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, minoring in law, from the University of Iceland (HÍ) in 2015.[1] He has Master of Science degrees in history from the University of Edinburgh (2017) and in European political economy from the London School of Economics (2020).[1]
Jóhann was a journalist at the DV (2012-2015) but resigned in January 2015 citing editorial interference by new owner Björn Ingi Hrafnsson who had links to the right wing Progressive Party.[1][4][5] He worked for Stundin, which had been founded by former journalists from DV, from 2015 to 2019.[1] He has won awards for his journalistic work including on Lekamálið (2014), sex offenders (2017) and Bjarni Benediktsson's involvement in the collapsed Glitnir bank (2018).[3][6][7]
Jóhann quit journalism after returning to Iceland from studying in the UK and entered politics, joining the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) in 2020.[3][7] He worked as an advisor to the party's parliamentary group.[8] He was elected to the Althing at the 2021 parliamentary election.[9] He was re-elected at the 2024 parliamentary election.[10][11] Upon the formation of Kristrún Frostadottír's cabinet on 21 December, Jóhann was appointed Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate.[12]
Jóhann is married to chemist Anna Bergljót Gunnarsdóttir.[1] Their daughter was born in January 2023.[13][14]
| Election | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 parliamentary[15] | Reykjavík North | Social Democratic Alliance | 3,323.00 | Elected | |
| 2024 parliamentary[16] | Reykjavík South | Social Democratic Alliance | 8,504.67 | Elected | |