Prime Minister of Iceland

Head of Iceland's government

Prime Minister of Iceland

Forsætisráðherra Íslands (Icelandic)

Coat of arms of Iceland

Incumbent
Bjarni Benediktsson

since 9 April 2024

Prime Minister's Office
Style|

* Mister Prime Minister (informal)
* His Excellency (diplomatic)

Member of|

* State Council of Iceland
* Cabinet of Iceland

Seat| Reykjavík, Iceland
Appointer| President
Term length| No term limit
Constituting instrument|

* Constitution of Iceland
* Law on the Cabinet of Iceland

Precursor| Minister for Iceland
Inaugural holder| Jón Magnússon
Formation| 1 February 1904; 120 years ago (1904-02-01)
Salary| 2,021,825 kr/US$ 14,038 monthly[1]
Website| eng.forsaetisraduneyti.is (in English)
forsaetisraduneyti.is (in Icelandic)

Politics of Iceland

Government

* Constitution of Iceland

* Law
* Taxation

* * *

* Constitutional reform

Legislature

* Althing

* Speaker Birgir Ármannsson (D)

* Members of Parliament

* * *

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Executive

* President of Iceland

* Halla Tómasdóttir (I)

* Prime Minister of Iceland

* Bjarni Benediktsson (D)

* * *

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* * *

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The prime minister of Iceland (Icelandic: Forsætisráðherra Íslands) is head of government of the Republic of Iceland. The prime minister is appointed formally by the president and exercises executive authority along with the cabinet subject to parliamentary support.

## Constitutional basis

[edit]

The prime minister is appointed by the president under the Constitution of Iceland, Section II Article 17, and chairs the Cabinet of Iceland:

Fundunum stjórnar sá ráðherra, er forseti lýðveldisins hefur kvatt til forsætis, og nefnist hann forsætisráðherra.[2]
The [cabinet] meetings shall be presided over by the Minister called upon by the President of the Republic to do so, who is designated Prime Minister.[3]

## Locations

[edit]

The prime minister's office is located in the Governing Council (Stjórnarráðið), Reykjavik, where their secretariat is based and where cabinet meetings are held.[4] The prime minister has a summer residence, Þingvallabær in Þingvellir. The prime minister also has a reception house in Tjarnargata, Reykjavik, which was the prime ministerial residence until 1943.[5]

* Stjórnarráðið in Reykjavík, the Prime Minister's Office

* Þingvallabær, the Prime Minister's summer residence

## List of previous prime ministers

[edit]

### Home Rule (1904–1918)

[edit]

See also: Minister for Iceland

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency | Took office  | Left office  | Party

|
|
|
|
|

1  |  | Hannes Hafstein
(1861–1922)
MP for Eyjafjarðarsýsla | 1 February
1904  | 31 March
1909  |  | Home Rule Party
2  |  | Björn Jónsson
(1846–1912)
MP for Barðastrandarsýsla | 31 March
1909  | 14 March
1911  |  | Independence Party
3  |  | Kristján Jónsson
(1852–1926)
MP for Borgarfjarðarsýsla | 14 March
1911  | 24 July
1912  |  | Independent
(1)  |  | Hannes Hafstein
(1861–1922)
MP for Eyjafjarðarsýsla | 24 July
1912  | 21 July
1914  |  | Union Party
4  |  | Sigurður Eggerz
(1875–1945)
MP for West Skaftafellssýsla | 21 July
1914  | 4 May
1915  |  | Independence Party
5  |  | Einar Arnórsson
(1880–1955)
MP for Árnessýsla | 4 May
1915  | 4 January
1917  |  | Independence Party
(Langsum)

### Kingdom (1918–1944)

[edit]

Further information: Kingdom of Iceland

Political party: Home Rule Independence Conservative Progressive Independent

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency | Term of office  | Political Party  | Cabinet  | Election  | Monarch
(Reign)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

#  | Took office  | Left office  | Days
6  |  | Jón Magnússon
(1859–1926)
MP for Reykjavík until 1920
not in Parliament from 1920 | 1 | 4 January
1917  | 25 February
1920  | 1888  |  | Home Rule Party | HP–IP–PP | Oct.
1916 | Kristján X

(1918–1944)
2 | 25 February
1920  | 7 March
1922  | HP–others  | 1919
(4)  |  | Sigurður Eggerz
(1875–1945)
MP without constituency | 1 | 7 March
1922  | 22 March
1924  | 746  |  | Independence Party | IP–others
1923
(6)  |  | Jón Magnússon
(1859–1926)
MP without constituency | 3 | 22 March
1924  | 23 June
1926
(died) | 823  |  | Conservative Party | CP
7  |  | Magnús Guðmundsson
Acting
(1879–1937)
MP for Skagafjarðarsýsla | 23 June
1926  | 8 July
1926  | 15  |  | Conservative Party
8  |  | Jón Þorláksson
(1877–1935)
MP without constituency | 1 | 8 July
1926  | 28 August
1927  | 416  |  | Conservative Party
9  |  | Tryggvi Þórhallsson
(1889–1935)
MP for Strandasýsla | 1 | 28 August
1927  | 3 June
1932  | 1741  |  | Progressive Party | PP | 1927
1931
10  |  | Ásgeir Ásgeirsson
(1894–1972)
MP for West Ísafjarðarsýsla | 1 | 3 June
1932  | 28 July
1934  | 785  |  | Progressive Party | PP–IP–Peasants
1933
11  |  | Hermann Jónasson
(1896–1976)
MP for Strandasýsla | 1 | 28 July
1934  | 16 May
1942  | 2849  |  | Progressive Party | PP–SDP | 1934
2 | PP | 1937
3 | PP–IP–SDP

12  |  | Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla | 1 | 16 May
1942  | 16 December
1942  | 214  |  | Independence Party | IP | Jul.
1942
Oct.
1942
13  |  | Björn Þórðarson
(1879–1963)
Not in Parliament | 1 | 16 December
1942  | 21 October
1944  | 675  |  | Independent

### Republic (1944–present)

[edit]

Further information: 1944 Icelandic constitutional referendum

Political party: Independence Progressive Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Alliance Left-Green

| No. | Portrait  | Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency | Term of office  | Political Party  | Cabinet  | Election  | President
(term)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

#  | Took Office  | Left Office  | Days
| (12)  |  | Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla | 2  | 21 October
1944  | 4 February
1947  | 836  | Independence Party | IP–SDP–SP | 1946 | Sveinn
Björnsson

(1944–1952)
| 14  |  | Stefán Jóhann Stefánsson
(1894–1980)
MP for Eyjafjarðarsýsla | 1  | 4 February
1947  | 6 December
1949  | 1036  | Social Democratic Party
| (12)  |  | Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla | 3  | 6 December
1949  | 14 March
1950  | 98  | Independence Party | IP | 1949
| 15  |  | Steingrímur Steinþórsson
(1893–1966)
MP for Skagafjarðarsýsla | 1  | 14 March
1950  | 11 September
1953  | 1277  | Progressive Party | PP–IP
| (12)  |  | Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla | 4  | 11 September
1953  | 24 July
1956  | 1035  | Independence Party | 1953 | Ásgeir
Ásgeirsson

(1952–1968)
| (11)  |  | Hermann Jónasson
(1896–1976)
MP for Strandasýsla | 5 | 24 July
1956  | 23 December
1958  | 894  | Progressive Party | PP–SDP–PA | 1956
| 16  |  | Emil Jónsson
(1902–1986)
MP for Hafnarfjörður | 1 | 23 December
1958  | 20 November
1959  | 332  | Social Democratic Party | SDP | Jun.
1959
| (12)  |  | Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla | 5 | 20 November
1959  | 8 September
1961  | 658  | Independence Party | IP–SDP | Oct.
1959
| 17  |  | Bjarni Benediktsson
Acting
(1908–1970)
MP for Reykjavík | 8 September
1961  | 31 December
1961  | 114  | Independence Party
| (12)  |  | Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla | 1 January
1962  | 14 November
1963  | 682  | Independence Party
| (17)  |  | Bjarni Benediktsson
(1908–1970)
MP for Reykjavík | 1 | 14 November
1963  | 10 July
1970
(died) | 2430  | Independence Party | 1963
1967 | Kristján
Eldjárn

(1968–1980)
| 18  |  | Jóhann Hafstein
(1915–1980)
MP for Reykjavík | 1 | Acting: 10 July
10 October
1970  | 14 July
1971  | 369  | Independence Party
| 19  |  | Ólafur Jóhannesson
(1913–1984)
MP for Northwestern | 1 | 14 July
1971  | 28 August
1974  | 1141  | Progressive Party | PP–PA–LL | 1971
| 20  |  | Geir Hallgrímsson
(1925–1990)
MP for Reykjavík | 1 | 28 August
1974  | 1 September
1978  | 1465  | Independence Party | IP–PP | 1974
| (19)  |  | Ólafur Jóhannesson
(1913–1984)
MP for Northwestern | 2 | 1 September
1978  | 15 October
1979  | 409  | Progressive Party | PP–PA | 1978
| 21  |  | Benedikt Gröndal
(1924–2010)
MP for Reykjavík | 1 | 15 October
1979  | 8 February
1980  | 116  | Social Democratic Party | SDP | 1979
| 22  |  | Gunnar Thoroddsen
(1910–1983)
MP for Reykjavík | 1 | 8 February
1980  | 26 May
1983  | 1203  | Independence Party
(*Gunnar's faction)  | IP*–PP–PA | Vigdís
Finnbogadóttir

(1980–1996)
| 23  |  | Steingrímur Hermannsson
(1928–2010)
MP for Westfjords | 1 | 26 May
1983  | 8 July
1987  | 1504  | Progressive Party | PP–IP | 1983
| 24  |  | Þorsteinn Pálsson
(born 1947)
MP for Southern | 1 | 8 July
1987  | 28 September
1988  | 448  | Independence Party | IP–PP–SDP | 1987
| (23)  |  | Steingrímur Hermannsson
(1928–2010)
MP for Reykjanes | 2 | 28 September
1988  | 30 April
1991  | 944  | Progressive Party | PP–SDP–PA
3 | PP–SDP–PA–CiP
| 25  |  | Davíð Oddsson
(born 1948)
MP for Reykjavík until 2003
MP for Reykjavík North from 2003 | 1 | 30 April
1991  | 15 September
2004  | 4887  | Independence Party | IP–SDP | 1991
2 | IP–PP | 1995 | Ólafur
Ragnar
Grímsson

(1996–2016)
3 | 1999
4 | 2003
| 26  |  | Halldór Ásgrímsson
(1947–2015)
MP for Reykjavík North | 1 | 15 September
2004  | 15 June
2006  | 638  | Progressive Party
| 27  |  | Geir Haarde
(born 1951)
MP for Reykjavík South | 1 | 15 June
2006  | 1 February
2009  | 962  | Independence Party
2 | IP–SDA | 2007
| 28  |  | Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
(born 1942)
MP for Reykjavík North | 1 | 1 February
2009  | 23 May
2013  | 1572  | Social Democratic Alliance | SDA–LGM
2 | 2009
| 29  |  | Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson
(born 1975)
MP for Northeast | 1 | 23 May
2013  | 7 April
2016  | 1049  | Progressive Party | PP–IP | 2013
| 30  |  | Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson
(born 1962)
MP for South | 1 | 7 April
2016  | 11 January
2017  | 280  | Progressive Party | Guðni
Thorlacius
Jóhannesson

(2016–2024)
| 31  |  | Bjarni Benediktsson
(born 1970)
MP for Southwest | 1 | 11 January
2017  | 30 November
2017  | 323  | Independence Party | IP–RP–BF | 2016
| 32  |  | Katrín Jakobsdóttir
(born 1976)
MP for Reykjavík North | 1 | 30 November
2017  | 9 April
2024  | 2537  | Left-Green Movement | LGM–IP–PP | 2017
2 | 2021
| (31)  |  | Bjarni Benediktsson
(born 1970)
MP for Southwest | 2 | 9 April
2024  | Incumbent | 215  | Independence Party | Halla
Tómasdóttir

(2024–present)

## Timeline

[edit]

## See also

[edit]

* Iceland portal
* Politics portal

* List of rulers of Iceland
* Cabinet of Iceland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2016.3.001 Alþingismenn, ráðherrar og forseti Íslands" [2016.3.001 Parliamentarians, Ministers and President of Iceland] (PDF). Kjararáð (in Icelandic). p. 7.
2. ^ Constitution of Iceland (Icelandic version)
3. ^ Constitution of Iceland (English version)
4. ^ "The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Iceland". Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
5. ^ "Minister's Residence". Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 28 October 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Iceland's Prime Ministers Office

* v
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* e

Prime ministers of Iceland

Minister for Iceland
(1904–1918)|

* Hannes Hafstein
* Björn Jónsson
* Kristján Jónsson
* Hannes Hafstein
* Sigurður Eggerz
* Einar Arnórsson

Kingdom of Iceland
(1918–1944)|

* Jón Magnússon
* Sigurður Eggerz
* Jón Magnússon
* Magnús Guðmundsson
* Jón Þorláksson
* Tryggvi Þórhallsson
* Ásgeir Ásgeirsson
* Hermann Jónasson
* Ólafur Thors
* Björn Þórðarson

Republic of Iceland
(1944–present)|

* Ólafur Thors
* Stefán J. Stefánsson
* Ólafur Thors
* Steingrímur Steinþórsson
* Ólafur Thors
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* Emil Jónsson
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