Kristbjörn Falgeirsson

*This is a Velkanian name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name. The subject should be referred to by the given name* Kristbjörn*.*

**Kristbjörn Falgeirsson** (born 12 March 1960) is a Velkanian politician and businessman who has served as Minister of Finance since 2016. A Liberal-Democrat, Kristbjörn was Minister of Defense, Security, and the Interior from 2012 to 2016, and has additionally served as a member of the Stádlink since 2004.

Born in Naríthjábæk, Kristbjörn graduated from Naríthjábæk Business School in 1979. After graduating, he enrolled in the University of Velkania and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1982. Afterwards, he moved to Munbach and began working at Limelite, a start-up in the technology sector. In 1985, he returned to Naríthjábæk and later received his master's of business administration from the University of Velkania in 1989. While a part-time graduate student, Kristbjörn founded the technology company Pack, which he later sold for $32.5 million in 1995. After selling Pack, Kristbjörn began a career as an angel investor for beginner entrepreneurs. Kristbjörn was elected to the Stádlink for the Liberal-Democrats in the 2004 election, representing the Central Velkania constituency. Following the 2012 election, Kristbjörn was appointed Minister of Defense, Security, and the Interior by Síf María Vílhelmsdætr for her first cabinet. After the winning an outright majority in the 2016 election, Síf María promoted Kristbjörn to Minister of Finance in her second cabinet.

Positioning himself solidly within the right-wing sector of the Liberal-Democrats and being ranked as the most conservative Liberal-Democrat in the Stádlink, Kristbjörn has supported both socially liberal policies and economically conservative policies, associating himself strongly with classical liberalism and libertarianism. He has been cited as a possible future Prime Minister or Liberal-Democrat party leader.

## Early life and education

Kristbjörn was born on 12 March 1960 in Naríthjábæk to parents Falgeir Kristbjörnsson (born 1929) and Liljá Gústavsdætr (born 1931). His father worked as an attorney, while his mother was a professor of economics at the University of Velkania. The family was relatively wealthy. Kristbjörn grew up as the elder of two sons; his younger brother is Finnlaugur, born  (1963-02-12) 12 February 1963 (age 60).

Kristbjörn began his education in 1966, attending a local public primary school in Naríthjábæk. While in school, Kristbjörn was a popular student who was also athletic, playing both football and ice hockey in local youth leagues. He graduated from primary school in 1976, and subsequently began studying a business and law program at Naríthjábæk Business School. Kristbjörn was also popular in high school, and was crowned *tími* king at the end of his high school career. He ultimately graduated from school in 1979. After graduating, Kristbjörn enrolled in the Faculty of Business at the University of Velkania, graduating with his degree in business administration in 1982. Afterwards, he moved to Munbach and began working at Limelite, a start-up in the technology sector.

In 1985, he returned to Naríthjábæk and later received his master's of business administration from the University of Velkania in 1989. While a part-time graduate student, Kristbjörn founded the technology company Pack, which he later sold for $32.5 million in 1995. After selling Pack, Kristbjörn began a career as an angel investor for beginner entrepreneurs.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

For many years, Kristbjörn had not been registered with a political party and instead described himself as "apolitical." During the tenure of Katrín Björk Maríusdætr, Kristbjörn registered himself with the Liberal-Democratic Party, and began participating in rallies and demonstrations on behalf of the Liberal-Democrats.

In 2004, Kristbjörn applied to stand as a candidate in the 2004 election in the Central Velkania constituency of the Stádlink. He went on to be elected, and has been reelected in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

### Ministerial positions

After the Liberal-Democrats won the 2012 election and Síf María Vílhelmsdætr secured a coalition agreement with the Green-Agrarian Party, it was announced by Síf María that she would be nominating Kristbjörn for the position of Minister of Defense, Security, and the Interior in her first cabinet. Ragnhildur IV formally appointed Kristbjörn as Minister of Defense, Security, and the Interior on 1 December 2012. The party won a majority of seats in the 2016 election, leading to the dissolution of the coalition government in favor of a single-party government of the Liberal-Democrats. Síf María chose to promote Kristbjörn to Minister of Finance in her second cabinet, as the outgoing officeholder Fúsi Bastíansson had been a member of the Green-Agrarians.

## Personal life

Kristbjörn began dating Velkanian social worker Nína Bjarnlaugursdætr in 1986. They later became engaged in 1989, and married the following year. Kristbjörn and Nína had three children together: Gústav, born  (1992-07-30) 30 July 1992 (age 31), Jakob, born  (1993-12-02) 2 December 1993 (age 30), and Íris Anna, born  (1998-04-24) 24 April 1998 (age 25).

Nína filed for divorce from Kristbjörn in 2007, citing irreconcilable differences; their divorce was later finalized in 2009. Their three children primarily resided with Nína following the divorce, although they children lived with Kristbjörn every other weekend due to a dual custody agreement.

In 2014, Kristbjörn married Velkanian former model Mikkalína Arnsteinnsdætr. They resided together in Búdarverfi, until moving to Naríthjábæk in 2019.