The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1959, Side 52

50
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Winter 19f>9
2. Mr. GuSmundur I. GuSmundsson,
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Social-
Democrat)
3. Mr. Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister
of Justice (Conservative)
4. Mr. Gylfi I*. Gislason, Minister of
Commerce and Minister of Educa-
tion (Social-Democrat)
5. Mr. Emil Jonsson, Minister of Fish-
eries and Minister of Social Affairs
(Social-Democrat)
6. Mr. Gunnar Thoroddsen, Minister
of Finance (Conservative)
7. Mr. Ingblfur Jonsson, Minister of
Agriculture (Conservative)
A quick glance at the above list gives
one reason to believe that Iceland has
now a stronger government than it has
had for many years. The Scoial-Dem-
ocrats are represented iby former
‘‘right wingers”, of the Social-Dem-
ocrats, who had formerly often been
in agreement with the Conservatives
on many important issues. Thus one
can hardly anticipate that there will
be much dissension within the govern-
ment itself in the near future. All the
Cabinet Ministers should be well qual-
ified for their .positions as they are all
experienced in the field of politics.
This is the fifth government to be
formed under the leadership of
premier 61afur Thors. Premier Thors
may be said to be one of the most
colorful personalities in the Icelandic
Parliament in this century. He is highly
respected, both by his own party mem
bers and also by many of his strongest
opponents.
A long time member of Parliament
and a county judge, GuSmundur I.
GuSmundsson, Minister of External
Affairs, has won recognition for be-
ing a capable man.
In his early twenties, Bjarni Ben-
ediktsson, Minister of Jusice, became
a professor of law at the University ot
Iceland. Even though Mr. Benedikts-
son had already acquired a merited
reputation in academic scholarship he
gave up his position as a professor of
law to become the mayor of Reykjavik
and a member of Parliament. He has
been in the Legislature since 1942 an.''
was Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Af-
fairs in 1948 when the country enter-
ed NATO.
Gunnar Thoroddsen, Minister of
Finance, has had a career somewhat
similar to that of Bjarni Benediktsson.
As a young man he became a professor
of law at the University of Iceland,
but his interest in public affairs did
not allow him to continue as an ac-
ademic teacher. In 1934 he was first
elected to Aiding and has since held
a seat there with only one intermission.
He has been the mayor of Reykjavik
for many years. Mr. Thoroddsen is
today recognized as one of the most
pleasing personalities in the Icelandic
Legislature, and has often been refer-
red to as one of Iceland’s greatest
diplomats.
Dr. Gylfi t>. Gislason has been a
member of Aljaing since 1946. He is
a professor of Economics at the Uni-
versity of Iceland as well as a Cabinet
Minister.
Emil Jonsson, former Prime Min-
ister of Iceland and now Minister of
Fisheries and Social Affairs, was firs;
elected to the Alfjing in 1934 and is
now the leader of the Social Democrats
in Iceland.
Ingolfur Jonsson has been a memlbei
of the Legislature since 1942.
All the Cabinet Ministers, with the
exception of Mr. Gunnar Thoroddsen,
have been members of previous Cab-
inets.