Geir Haarde

Geir Hilmar Haarde [ ceɪ: R hɪlmar̯ hɔrtɛ ] ( born April 8, 1951 in Reykjavík ) is an Icelandic politician ( Independence Party ) and was between 2006 and 2009 Icelandic Prime Minister.

Life and political career

Education, and political entry

Geir Hilmar Haarde studied in the United States at Brandeis University in Waltham (Massachusetts ) economics. He first worked as an assistant to the Minister of Finance and as a manager at the Icelandic Central Bank.

Member of Parliament, Minister and party leader

Since 1987 he is a member of the Icelandic parliament Althingi. Between April 1998 and September 2005, he was Finance Minister, then Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was elected to succeed Davíð Oddsson as Chairman of the Independence Party in October 2005.

Prime minister

On 15 June 2006 Geir replaced the politicians Halldór Ásgrímsson from the Prime Minister.

In the Icelandic parliamentary election in May 2007, he scored with the Independence Party, the majority of the votes and formed together with the Alliance a new government.

In the wake of the financial crisis, fell by Iceland in 2008 in massive financial difficulties, Geir came under domestic political pressure. Demonstrators demanded his resignation in October 2008 and the central bank governors of the Davíð Oddsson. For the biggest demonstration took place on 23 November. The protests took on enhanced forms. The Premier took on 21 January 2009 police protection when leaving the headquarters. Therefore, he announced on 23 January 2009 to his resignation and new parliamentary elections for May 9, 2009. On 26 January 2009 the Icelandic government announced, after months of protests by the population their resignation. Shortly after Geir's resignation Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir was asked to form a minority government.

Because cancer surgery Geir handed the end of March the chair of the Independence Party of Bjarni Benediktsson.

Condemnation

In September 2010, a case against Geir before the national Special Court Landsdómur was passed by the Icelandic parliament. This began on March 5, 2012. On 23 April 2012, the jury Haarde were in one of several counts of guilty. He had not adequately informed prior to the financial crisis and to convene a special cabinet meeting, as the situation worsened. Since it is a formal offense, draws condemnation Haarde no punishment. Nevertheless, he announced vocation.