Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson (born 26 June 1968[1]) is the president-elect of Iceland, an Icelandic historian and lecturer at theUniversity of Iceland.
Early life and education[edit]
Guðni graduated from Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík in 1987 and earned a bachelor's degree in history and political science fromWarwick University in England in 1991 and a Master of Arts in history from the University of Iceland in 1997. Two years later he completed an MSt degree in history from the University of Oxford.[1] In 2003 he received a PhD in history from Queen Mary, University of London.[2]
Guðni has worked as a lecturer at the University of Iceland, Bifröst University andUniversity of London.[1] Today he works as a senior lecturer in history at the University of Iceland. His field of research is modern Icelandic history in which he has published a number of works, including on the Cod Wars, 2008–11 Icelandic financial crisis and the Icelandic presidency. He has written a biography of Gunnar Thoroddsen and a book about the presidency of Kristján Eldjárn.[1]
Presidential candidature[edit]
Guðni decided to stand for president on 5 May 2016. His platform includes support for a citizen initiative referendum provision in the Constitution.[3] Early polls showed significant support,[4] and following incumbent president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson's decision to drop out of the race Guðni saw an increase in popularity reflected in various polls, which ranked him first with 67% to 69%, far ahead of other contenders.[5] Guðni was elected on 25 June after receiving a plurality with 39,1% of the vote.[6] He will take office on 1 August.[7] At 48, Guðni became Iceland's youngest president-elect.[8]
Guðni was unaffiliated to any of Iceland’s political parties.[8] Describing himself, Guðni stated that he would be a "less political president" than his predecessor Olafur Ragnar Grimsson due to a lack of political partisanship.[8] Guðni has emphasize the importance of unity for the small Nordic nation.[8]
Personal life[edit]
Religious beliefs[edit]
Guðni stands outside organized religion, but was raised in the Catholic faith. He left theCatholic Church following reports of sexual abuse from various Catholic priests. He today says his credo is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "human beings are born free, equal in dignity and rights. Humans are endowed with reason and conscience and should act in the spirit of brotherhood towards each other."[1]
Guðni is the son of the teacher and journalist Margrét Thorlacius and the PE teacher and coach Jóhannes Sæmundsson. His father died of cancer at the age of 42. He has two brothers, Patrekur, a former Icelandic national handball team player, who is coach of theAustria national handball team, and Jóhannes, who is a system analyst.[1]
Jóhannesson married Canadian Eliza Reid in 2004 and they have four children together.[9]The couple, who met while both were studying in the United Kingdom, moved to Iceland in 2003.[9] Reid will become First Lady of Iceland once he is sworn into office.[9] Jóhannesson also has a daughter from a previous marriage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu%C3%B0ni_Th._J%C3%B3hannesson
