Update November 29, 2:30 PM: The names of several ministries have been updated.
After lengthy talks following last September’s parliamentary election, the ruling parties of the last coalition (The Independence Party, the Progressive Party, and the Left-Green Movement) have reached an agreement on a new government coalition, introduced earlier today. Katrín Jakobsdóttir will remain the Prime Minister and Independence Party leader Bjarni Benediktsson will continue in his role as Minister of Finance but other ministers take on new roles. The new cabinet has 12 ministers; five women and seven men.
At a State Council meeting at 3:00 PM Sunday afternoon at the Bessastaðir Presidential Residence, the President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson formally discharged Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir’s government coalition. A second State Council meeting began at 4:00 PM, where Katrín Jakobsdóttir’s new cabinet took office.
The Independence Party will take over the Environment Ministry, the Progressive Party takes the Ministry of Health, and education and culture, previously under one ministry, will now be split between a Ministry of Schools and Children, a Ministry for Innovation, Industry, and Universities, and a Ministry of Commerce and Culture.
Ministers in Katrín Jakobsdóttir’s new cabinet
From the Independence Party:
Bjarni Benediktsson, party chairman, will remain the Minister of Finance.
Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, formerly the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation, will become the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, formerly the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation, will be the Minister for the Environment and Climate Affairs.
Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, formerly the Minister of Justice, will be the Minister for Innovation, Industry, and Universities.
Jón Gunnarsson will be the Minister of Justice. He will be replaced by Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir halfway through the four-year term.
From the Progressive Party:
Willum Þór Þórsson will be the Minister of Health.
Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, party chairman, formerly the Minister of Transport and Local Government, will be the Minister of the Interior.
Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, formerly the Minister of Education, Science and Culture, will become the Minister of Commerce and Culture.
Ásmundur Einar Daðason, formerly the Minister of Social Affairs and Children, will become the Minister of Schools and Children.
From the Left-Green Movement:
Katrín Jakobsdóttir, party leader, will remain Prime Minister.
Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, formerly the Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources will become the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Market.
Svandís Svavarsdóttir, formerly the Minister of Health, will become the Minister of Food, Fisheries, and Agriculture.
