Nanna Ósk Borgþórsdattir

*This name uses Velkanian naming customs; the last name is a patronymic, not a family name. This person should be properly referred to by the given name* Nanna.

**Nanna Ósk Borgþórsdattir** (born 22 October 1971) is a Velkanian politician who served as Minister of Transportation and Local Governance in the third Davíð Brynnsteinsson cabinet from 2010 until 2014. She has additionally served as a member of the Orthing since 2006, and is a member of the Velkanian People's Party.

Born in Narísandur, Nanna graduated from upper secondary school in 1991, afterwards enrolling in the University of Velkania and graduating with a degree in political science in 1994. Following her graduation, Nanna was hired as a legislative assistant in parliament for four years, until being elected as a deputy for Ísveig Anna Freyþórsdattir of the Liberal-Conservative Party in the 1998 election; Nanna deputized for Ísveig during her six-month maternity leave in 1999. In 2000, she was elected as a municipal councilor for Hveranæyjar in the 2000 local elections. In 2001, she was one of a number of Liberal-Conservatives who switched their party registration to the newly-formed Velkanian People's Party, later being reelected to the municipal council for the People's Party in the 2004 local elections.

Nanna entered national politics in 2006, after being elected to the Orthing for the People's Party in the 2006 general election, vacating her seat in the municipal council halfway through her second four-year term. She was later reelected in 2010, and subsequently nominated by Davíð Brynnsteinsson to serve as Minister of Transportation and Local Governance in his third cabinet. After the governing coalition lost the 2014 election, she left her ministerial position and returned to the backbench. In 2018, Nanna was elected to serve as parliamentary leader of the People's Party. Commentators have referred to Nanna as a potential future People's Party leader.

## Early life and education

Nanna was born on 22 October 1971 in Narísandur to parents Borgþór Beinteinnsson (born 1945) and Salóme María Galdardattir (born 1948). Her parents never married, and she was raised by primarily her mother and stepfather Jörgen Börkarson (born 1943). Her mother worked as a primary school teacher, while her stepfather was an administrator at the University of Velkania. Nanna has one elder stepbrother: Freyr Kolbeinn, born  (1970-08-24) 24 August 1970 (age 53). She was raised in the Bakkaneyri neighborhood of Narísandur.

Nanna began her education in 1977, attending a local, public primary school in Bakkaneyri. While in primary school, Nanna was a gifted student and aspired to become prime minister. She graduated in 1987, and afterwards enrolled in Lónsfoss Junior College, studying a social sciences program, and graduated in 1991. She subsequently enrolled in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Velkania, graduating with a degree in political science in 1994. While a university student, Nanna was elected to the student council as a member of the Unglinga student union for both her second and third years of study.

## Political career

### Early politics

Nanna began her career in politics in 1994, shortly after her graduation from university, after she was hired as a legislative assistant for Lúðvík Bjarkason. In the position, she was tasked with monitoring pending legislation, conducting research, drafting legislation, giving advice and counsel, and making recommendations to Lúðvík regarding upcoming legislation.

In 1996, she left Lúðvík's staff and was hired by Anna Hvönn Högnadattir as her deputy chief of staff. In this position, she deputized the chief of staff, who was responsible for Anna's schedule and overall management of her parliamentary office and staff. She left the position in 1998, after Nanna was elected as the deputy of Ísveig Anna Freyþórsdattir in the 1998 election. As a deputy, Nanna worked in Ísveig's office as a legislative assistant, and would be tasked with taking over her legislative duties if she temporarily or permanently vacated the office. Nanna officially took over her legislative duties in June 1999, after Ísveig began a maternity leave, until Ísveig returned to work in December of that year.

### Municipal politics

In 2000, Nanna began her career in local politics after she was elected to the Hveranæyjar municipal council for the Liberal-Conservative Party in the 2000 local elections. Following her election, the Liberal-Conservatives were an opposition group within the council.

In 2001, Nanna switched her party registration from Liberal-Conservative to the Velkanian People's Party, citing her support for social liberalism and progressivism, which she did not feel was represented in the Liberal-Conservatives. Upon her switch, she became the only member of the People's Party represented in the municipal council, and remained in the opposition. She was reelected in the 2004 local elections, once again being the only member of the party represented in the municipal council and remaining in the opposition.

### Parliament and Minister of Transportation and Local Governance

Nanna began her career in national politics in 2006, after she was included on the People's Party list in the 2006 general election. She ultimately was elected to the Orthing, and vacated her seat in the municipal council afterwards.

Upon taking her seat in parliament, Nanna was described as a "rising star" within the party, and cited as a potential future party leader. In 2008, Dæja Heiðmarsdattir tendered her resignation as party leader, and Nanna was briefly rumored to be considering a bid to succeed her. She ultimately did not run in the leadership election, citing her lack of support from fellow party members, but did not endorse a candidate in the election. Following the 2010 election, Nanna was nominated by Davíð Brynnsteinsson to serve as Minister of Transportation and Local Governance in his third cabinet. In the position, Nanna was responsible for public transportation, road systems, vehicle licensure, citizenship, postal services, infrastructure and public works, public housing, local government administration, and overseeing elections of the Velkanian Isles.

After the 2014 election, the governing coalition collapsed and the People's Party went into the opposition. Following this, Nanna resigned from her ministerial position, and became a backbencher.

### Parliamentary leader

Following the 2018 election, the People's Party returned to the government in the second Sif María Vilhjálmardattir cabinet. Nanna was rumored to be a top name for a ministerial position, and reportedly strongly preferred either being nominated to her former post or Minister of Justice.

When neither position was offered to her, Nanna ultimately declined being nominated to the cabinet, and preferred to remain in the legislative branch. Afterwards, she was elected by parliamentary party members to serve as the parliamentary leader of the People's Party. Commentators have stated that Nanna is a "major candidate" for the leadership of the People's Party following the eventual retirement of Óttarr Fjölvarsson.

## Personal life

Nanna began a relationship with Velkanian electrical engineer Ríkarður Ingibergsson in 1994. They became engaged in 1996, and later married the following year. Nanna and Ríkarður had two sons together: Rafn Hólmar, born  (2001-03-24) 24 March 2001 (age 22), and Magni, born  (2005-02-28) 28 February 2005 (age 18). The family resided in Hveranæyjar.

In 2014, Ríkarður was diagnosed with invasive lung cancer. He later died of the disease in July 2015, aged 48.