Iceland’s ministry responsible for fisheries is now in the hands of the Reform Party, now that new minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson has formally taken over the department from the outgoing minister.
Outgoing Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson has served as interim minister responsible for the Ministry of Food, since Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir of the Left-Green Alliance stepped down from the role in mid-October – when the previous government coalition announced that its member parties could no longer collaborate. This triggered the election held at the end of November, resulting in the new coalition of the Social Democrat, Reform and People’s parties.
Fisheries had been in the hands of the Left-Green Alliance within the Ministry of Food for two parliamentary terms, initially under Svandís Svavarsdóttir and subsequently Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir.
New Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson has a background in journalism, business and banking before becoming an MP for the centre-right Reform party in 2016.
Under a shake-up under the incoming administration, there is one ministry fewer than previously. As of 1st March next year, the Ministry of Food becomes the Ministry of Industry. Its remit also takes on responsibility for business, tourism and consumer affairs, while some of its responsibilites are transferred to the Ministry of Environment.
