| Halldór Ásgrímsson | |
| Office: | 26th Prime Minister of Iceland |
| President: | Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson |
| Term Start: | 15 September 2004 |
| Term End: | 15 June 2006 |
| Predecessor: | Davíð Oddsson |
| Successor: | Geir Haarde |
| Office1: | Secretary General for the Nordic Council of Ministers |
| Term Start1: | 1 January 2007 |
| Term End1: | 28 February 2013 |
| Predecessor1: | Per Unckel |
| Successor1: | Dagfinn Høybråten |
| Office2: | Minister of Foreign Affairs |
| Term Start2: | 23 April 1995 |
| Term End2: | 15 September 2004 |
| Primeminister2: | Davíð Oddsson |
| Predecessor2: | Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson |
| Successor2: | Davíð Oddsson |
| Office3: | Minister for Nordic Cooperation |
| Term Start3: | 23 April 1995 |
| Term End3: | 11 May 1999 |
| Primeminister3: | Davið Oddsson |
| Predecessor3: | Sighvatur Kristinn Björgvinsson |
| Successor3: | Siv Friðleifsdóttir |
| Office4: | Minister of Fisheries |
| Term Start4: | 26 May 1983 |
| Term End4: | 30 April 1991 |
| Primeminister4: | Steingrimur Hermannsson Þorsteinn Pálsson |
| Predecessor4: | Steingrimur Hermannsson |
| Successor4: | Þorsteinn Pálsson |
| Office5: | Minister of Justice |
| Term Start5: | 28 September 1988 |
| Term End5: | 10 September 1989 |
| Primeminister5: | Steingrimur Hermannsson |
| Predecessor5: | Jón Sigurðsson |
| Successor5: | Óli Guðbjartssson |
| Birth Date: | 8 September 1947 |
| Birth Place: | Vopnafjörður, Iceland |
| Death Place: | Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Party: | Progressive Party |
| Spouse: | Sigurjóna Sigurðardóttir |
| Children: | 3 |
| Alma Mater: | Bifröst University |
Halldór Ásgrímsson (pronounced in Icelandic pronounced as /ˈhalːˌtour ˈauːsˌkrimsˌsɔn/; 8 September 1947 – 18 May 2015) was an Icelandic politician, who served as prime minister of Iceland from 15 September 2004 to 15 June 2006 and was the leader of the Progressive Party from 1994 to 2006.[1]
Halldór studied at the Co-operative College in Bifröst, and became a certified public accountant in 1970. He later completed graduate commerce studies at the Universities of Bergen and Copenhagen, and worked as a lecturer at the University of Iceland from 1973 to 1975.
He represented the Eastern constituency as a member of the Althing (Icelandic Parliament) from 1974 to 1978 and from 1979 to 2003, when he was elected to represent the Reykjavík North constituency. Over the years, he has served in a large number of ministerial portfolios, namely as Minister of Fisheries from 1983 to 1991, Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs from 1988 to 1989, Minister for Nordic Cooperation from 1985 to 1987 and 1995 to 1999 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2004. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Halldór put Iceland on the Coalition of the Willing, the alliance supporting the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[2]
Halldór took over as Prime Minister on 15 September 2004, succeeding Independence Party leader Davíð Oddsson, while Davíð replaced Halldór as Foreign Minister.
On 5 June 2006, following poor results for his party in the 2006 Icelandic municipalities elections, Halldór announced his resignation as Prime Minister and stated that he intended to step down as leader of the Progressive Party in August 2006, and leave politics all together. Geir H. Haarde, the Foreign Minister of Iceland, succeeded him on 15 June 2006.
Halldór Ásgrímsson's successor as Progressive Party leader was Jón Sigurðsson, Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, who was elected at the party's convention in August 2006. At the convention Halldór ended his political career with an emotional and dynamic farewell speech to the party. Halldór resigned as MP after the convention; he was the longest serving MP at the time.
On 31 October 2006, Halldór was chosen as the Secretary-General of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Halldór Ásgrímsson was an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.
He died of a heart attack at a Reykjavík hospital in May 2015.[3] His casket was carried by prime minister, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson and his long-life partner, Davíð Oddsson.[4]
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