Björnólfur Bjarkisson

*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* Björnólfur*.*

**Björnólfur Bjarkisson** (born 23 April 1976) is a Velkanian politician who has served as Minister of Welfare and Labor since 2012. A Liberal-Democrat, Björnólfur has additionally served as a member of the Stádlink since 2004.

Born in Naríthjábæk, Björnólfur attended South Naríthjábæk Technical School and graduated with qualifications in carpentry in 1994. After finishing his education, Björnólfur began working as a carpenter in Naríthjábæk. In 2002, he founded his own small carpentry business with two friends. Björnólfur was elected to the Stádlink for the Liberal-Democrats in the 2004 election, representing the Capital Region constituency. Björnólfur was later appointed Minister of Welfare and Labor by Síf María Vílhelmsdætr for her first cabinet in 2012, remaining in this capacity in her second cabinet as well in 2016.

## Early life and education

Björnólfur was born in Naríthjábæk to parents Bjarki Nikulásson (born 1951) and Selma Tóbíasdætr (born 1952). His father worked as a plumber, while his mother was a housewife-turned-daycare worker. Björnólfur is the middle of three children and only son; his sisters include Audbjört, born  (1974-07-12) 12 July 1974 (age 49), and Gréta, born  (1984-08-16) 16 August 1984 (age 39). He grew up in a relatively working-class family in the Thórslavik district of Naríthjábæk.

Björnólfur began his education in 1982, attending a local public primary school in Naríthjábæk. In school, Björnólfur was a high academic achiever but admitted to sometimes lacking motivation and being a troublemaker. He graduated from primary school in 1992, and enrolled in South Naríthjábæk Technical School, studying to become a carpenter. He graduated from high school in 1994, with qualifications to work as a carpenter, and soon afterwards began his career. In 2002, Björnólfur and two friends founded the carpentry business Núsa Carpentry.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

Björnólfur began his career as a non-political person. His family were supporters of the Social Democrats, but Björnólfur was not registered with a political party and did not vote for much of his young life. In 2002, he registered with the Liberal-Democratic Party after realizing politics was important while beginning his carpentry business.

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

### Minister of Welfare and Labor

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 Björnólfur for the position of Minister of Welfare and Labor in her first cabinet. Ragnhildur IV formally appointed Björnólfur as Minister of Welfare and Labor 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 Björnólfur to remain in his capacity as Minister of Welfare and Labor in her second cabinet.

## Personal life

Björnólfur began a relationship with hairdresser and makeup artist Gréta Ísidórsdætr in 1993, while both were students at South Naríthjábæk Technical School. The relationship was on-and-off for several years throughout their young adulthood, until they became engaged in 1999, later marrying the following year. Björnólfur and Gréta have one daughter together: Fridrikka, born  (2000-10-28) 28 October 2000 (age 23). The family resides in Naríthjábæk.