Daníel Ellís Sölvarsson

*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* Daníel Ellís*.*

**Daníel Ellís Sölvarsson** (born 30 December 1967) is a Velkanian politician and lawyer who has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2012. A Liberal-Democrat, Daníel Ellís has additionally served as a member of the Stádlink since 2004.

Born in Naríthjábæk, Daníel Ellís graduated from Naríthjábæk Junior College in 1987, and afterwards enrolled in the University of Velkania as a law student. He graduated with his law degree in 1993, and subsequently worked as a criminal defense attorney in Naríthjábæk for several years. Daníel Ellís was elected to the Stádlink for the Liberal-Democrats in the 2004 election, representing the Northern Velkania constituency. After the resignation of Ýrma Anna Jónsdætr, Daníel Ellís announced his candidacy in the leadership election, but ultimately lost the election to Síf María Vílhelmsdætr. He was later appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by Síf María for her first cabinet in 2012, remaining in this capacity in her second cabinet as well in 2016.

One of the most recognizable members of the cabinet, Daníel Ellís has been widely theorized as a possible future Prime Minister or Liberal-Democrat party leader.

## Early life and education

Daníel Ellís was born on 30 December 1967 in Naríthjábæk to parents Sölvar Lérsson (1944–1994) and Hrafnhildur Anna Jónbjörnsdætr (born 1945). His parents were not married at the time of his birth, and split up when he was six months old. Daníel Ellís has had no contact with his father since he was eight years old, and his father later died of a drug overdose while living in Kasha in 1994. He was instead raised by his mother, a preschool teacher, and his stepfather Kristinn Kasparsson (born 1942), who worked in marketing. Daníel Ellís has two younger maternal half-sisters: Ingibjört Kristinnsdætr, born  (1977-06-01) 1 June 1977 (age 46), and Mirja Kristinnsdætr, born  (1980-01-18) 18 January 1980 (age 44).

Daníel Ellís began his education in 1974, attending a local public primary school in Naríthjábæk. In school, Daníel Ellís was shy, having difficulty making friends, but was a high academic achiever. He graduated from primary school in 1984, and subsequently began attending Naríthjábæk Junior College, studying a business and law program. He graduated from high school in 1987. After finishing his high school education, Daníel Ellís enrolled in the Faculty of Law at the University of Velkania, graduating with his law degree in 1993. After graduating, Daníel Ellís worked as a public defender for the City of Naríthjábæk, later leaving to work as a criminal defense attorney at a mid-sized law firm in 1995.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

Daníel Ellís has described himself as always being a political person. Growing up, his family were ardent supporters of the Social Democrats, and he has described politicians such as Laíla María Bjarnarsdætr and Brigitta Magnúsdætr as his "political heroes." During the tenure of Katrín Björk Maríusdætr, the family became disillusioned with the Social Democrats, and instead switched their party affiliation to Liberal-Democratic.

In 2004, Daníel Ellís applied to stand as a candidate in the 2004 election in the Northern Velkania constituency of the Stádlink. He went on to be elected, and has been reelected in 2008, 2012, and 2016. After the resignation of Ýrma Anna Jónsdætr in 2008, Daníel Ellís announced his candidacy in the leadership election, but ultimately lost the election to Síf María Vílhelmsdætr.

### Minister of Foreign Affairs

After the Liberal-Democrats won the 2012 election and Síf María secured a coalition agreement with the Green-Agrarian Party, it was announced by Síf María that she would be nominating Daníel Ellís for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in her first cabinet. Ragnhildur IV formally appointed Daníel Ellís as Minister of Foreign Affairs 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 Daníel Ellís to remain in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs in her second cabinet.

## Personal life

Daníel Ellís began a relationship with Velkanian lawyer Margréta Mördursdætr in 1992, meeting while they were both law students at the University of Velkania. They became engaged in 1995, and later married in 1997. Daníel Ellís and Margréta have three daughters together: Jakobína, born  (2000-02-19) 19 February 2000 (age 23), Móníka Hvönn, born  (2001-11-28) 28 November 2001 (age 22), and Sirrí, born  (2005-04-02) 2 April 2005 (age 18). The family resides in Naríthjábæk.