| Ólafur Jóhannesson | |
| Office: | 19th Prime Minister of Iceland |
| President: | Kristján Eldjárn |
| Term Start: | 1 September 1978 |
| Term End: | 15 October 1979 |
| Predecessor: | Geir Hallgrímsson |
| Successor: | Benedikt Gröndal |
| President1: | Kristján Eldjárn |
| Term Start1: | 14 July 1971 |
| Term End1: | 28 August 1974 |
| Predecessor1: | Jóhann Hafstein |
| Successor1: | Geir Hallgrímsson |
| Office2: | Minister of Foreign Affairs |
| Term Start2: | 8 February 1980 |
| Term End2: | 26 May 1983 |
| Primeminister2: | Gunnar Thoroddsen |
| Predecessor2: | Benedikt Gröndal |
| Successor2: | Geir Hallgrímsson |
| Birth Date: | 1 March 1913 |
| Birth Place: | Skagafjörður, Iceland |
| Party: | Progressive Party |
| Alma Mater: | University of Iceland |
Ólafur Jóhannesson (1 March 1913 - 20 May 1984) was the Prime Minister of Iceland for the Progressive Party on two occasions. First from 1971 to 1974 and again from 1978 to 1979. He was a member of the Progressive Party, serving as party chairman during from 1968 to 1979.
Ólafur was educated at Akureyri Junior College (matriculated 1935), and studied law at the University of Iceland (graduated 1939, Hdl. 1942).[1] Following postgraduate studies in Denmark and Sweden, he worked as a lawyer and accountant, before returning to academia, becoming a lecturer and serving as a professor of law at the University of Iceland 1947–78.
He served as Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Minister Ecclesiastical Affairs 1971–74 and 1978–79; Minister for Justice, Minister Ecclesiastical Affairs and Trade Secretary 1974–78; and Foreign Minister 1980–83.[1] As Minister for Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs, he recognised Ásatrúarfélagið as a religious organisation in May 1973. During his tenure, Ólafur headed the government that defied United Kingdom during the Cod War.[2]
Ólafur became the Progressive Party leader in 1968 and formed a cabinet with him as a prime minister following the 1971 election. After the 1974 election, Geir Hallgrímsson the chairman of the Independence Party formed a new cabinet with the Progressive Party where Geir was prime minister. After the 1978 election, Ólafur became prime minister again and formed a new left-wing cabinet. In October 1979 Ólafur decided to dissolve the coalition because of economic disagreements, including because of high inflation and high gas prices. Ólafur left as party leader later that year but served as an MP until his death in 1984. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1980 to 1983 in Gunnar Thoroddsen's cabinet.
In 1941, Ólafur married Dóra Guðbjartsdóttir (1915−2004). They had three children.[3]
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