Brigitta Magnúsdætr

*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* Brigitta*.*

**Brigitta Magnúsdætr** (born 24 November 1947) is a Velkanian politician, journalist, and political commentator who served as Prime Minister of the Velkanian Isles from 1990 to 1993. A Social Democrat, Brigitta served as Leader of the Social Democratic Party from 1989 until resigning in 1993, being the second woman to hold both posts. Brigitta had first entered politics in 1980, being elected to the Stádlink for the constituency of Central Velkania.

Born to a Velkanian father and Forsish mother in Naríthjábæk, Brigitta attended Akuhólmur School, graduating in 1967. Always eager to pursue politics, Brigitta enrolled in the University of Velkania to study political science, and graduated with her degree in 1970. Afterwards, Brigitta began a paid position at the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party in Naríthjábæk, working in voter outreach and specializing in women's outreach. She first sought out public office while running in the 1976 election, seeking a seat in the Stádlink for the constituency of North Riksania. She did not receive a seat, and afterwards began working as a staffer for Laíla María Bjarnarsdætr at the Office of the Prime Minister. Brigitta later ran for election a second time in the 1980 election, this time winning a seat for the Central Velkania constituency. Continuously in the opposition throughout her early political career, Brigitta became a household name due to her passionate floor debates on social issues against the Conservatives, particularly Knörr Geirmundursson and Alma Jónsdætr.

After the Social Democrats had a poor performance in the 1988 election, party leader Jóhann Hjálmar Sölvarsson announced his planned resignation, and a leadership election was declared. Brigitta was the first to announce her candidacy, and quickly emerged as a favorite to win the election. She faced off against Thór Kristbergursson in the final round of the election and defeated him, being elected Leader of the Social Democratic Party, the second woman to ever hold this post. As party leader, Brigitta had been expected to lead the country into the 1992 election; however, amidst the crumbling government of Jónsi Pál Steinkellsson, a snap election was declared following a successful vote of no confidence in 1990. Brigitta led the party into the snap election, winning a plurality of seats and heading a majority coalition with the Left Party; with this win, Brigitta was elected Prime Minister of the Velkanian Isles. As Prime Minister, Brigitta's government adopted a number of socially liberal principals, such as passing the recognition of same-sex civil unions, decriminalizing sex work, and easing restrictions on abortion up to the third trimester. However, the government faced criticism for their moderate views on economic issues, sparking disagreements with the Left Party and left-wing Social Democrats.

In May 1993, Brigitta announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and would resign from office as Prime Minister in order to prioritize her health. A leadership election was declared, and after Katrín Björk Maríusdætr had been declared the winner, Brigitta officially tendered her resignation as Prime Minister, party leader, and a member of the Stádlink on 24 July 1993. After six months of chemotherapy, Brigitta was declared to be cancer-free. She returned to public life after going into remission, and continues to frequently appear as a political commentator, political journalist, and otherwise public figure.

## Early life and education

Brigitta was born on 24 November 1947 in Naríthjábæk to parents Magnús Sírnirsson (1912–1999) and Kristine Nordmalm (1913–2006). Her father worked as a reporter for the *Daghöga Vælkjáthkurath*, while her mother was from Forsland and worked in telecommunications; Magnús and Kristine met while students at Vagenburg University in Forsland during the 1930s. Brigitta is the second of three children; her siblings include Pál, born  (1942-12-20) 20 December 1942 (age 81), and Árthóra María, born  (1949-03-17) 17 March 1949 (age 74). Pál worked in advertising, while Árthóra María is a retired schoolteacher.

Brigitta was raised bilingually in both Velkanian and Forsish. She has stated that her dual Velkanian-Forsish identity caused problems for her as a child. In a 1990 interview, Brigitta stated, "many children made fun of me for being Forsish. I sought refuge in the other Forsish students, but they considered me solely a Velkanian because of my name. I was too Forsish for the Velkanians, and too Velkanian for the Fors."

### Education and early career

Brigitta began her education in 1954, attending a local public primary school in Naríthjábæk. While in school, Brigitta was noted for being an overachiever who excelled in many different subjects. She graduated from primary school in 1964, and enrolled in Akuhólmur School, where she studied a social sciences program. While a high school student, Brigitta became active in the Velkanian independence movement, frequently attending rallies and demonstrations throughout the 1960s.

After graduating from high school in 1967, Brigitta was accepted to the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Velkania. She graduated with a degree in political science in 1970. After finishing her education, Brigitta began a position at the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party in Naríthjábæk, working in voter outreach and specializing in women's outreach. In 1977, she left this job and began working as a staffer for Laíla María Bjarnarsdætr at the Office of the Prime Minister, working as the deputy director of communications and as a speechwriter.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

Since her teenage years, Brigitta had been politically active in Social Democratic politics. While working for the Social Democratic Party in the 1970s, Brigitta was groomed by her superiors to eventually run for political office. In 1976, she applied to stand as a candidate in the 1976 election for the constituency of North Riksania. She did not win a seat, and but later became even more active in politics as a staffer for Laíla María Bjarnarsdætr. Laíla María groomed Brigitta for an even bigger role in elected politics, and personally prepared her to run for office later on.

After leaving her position as a staffer following Laíla María's death in 1979, Brigitta applied to stand as a candidate in the 1980 election for the constituency of Central Velkania. She went on to win a seat, and was elected to the Stádlink. Continuously in the opposition throughout her early political career, Brigitta became a household name due to her passionate floor debates on social issues against the Conservatives, particularly Knörr Geirmundursson and Alma Jónsdætr. She went on to win reelection in 1984 and 1988. Following the 1988 election, the Social Democrats lost a number of seats. Due to the poor performance, Jóhann Hjálmar Sölvarsson announced that he planned to resign as Leader of the Social Democratic Party, and a leadership election was declared. Brigitta was one of five candidates to declare their candidacies in the election. She went on to advance as one of the top two candidates, along with Thór Kristbergursson. In the final round, she was ultimately declared the winner.

### Prime Minister

After winning the leadership election, Brigitta became the second woman to serve as leader of the Social Democrats. She was preparing to lead the party into the 1992 election, until the government of Jónsi Pál Steinkellsson lost a vote of no confidence and were removed from office. Because of this, a snap election was declared, with Brigitta having to lead the party into it with only a year of experience as party leader.

Ultimately, Brigitta and the Social Democrats went on to win a plurality of seats in the election. She negotiated a majority coalition with the Left Party, and soon took office as Prime Minister of the Velkanian Isles. Brigitta's tenure as Prime Minister was met with frequent disagreements between the Left Party and left-wing faction of the Social Democrats, and the center-left faction of the Social Democrats. Identifying herself as economically moderate and socially liberal, Brigitta had stark disagreements with the economically left-wing positions of the Left Party, which resulted in numerous threats from the party that they'd leave the majority coalition and leave Brigitta's government susceptible to a vote of no confidence. Nevertheless, Brigitta chose to focus her government on social policy. Throughout her tenure, her government passed a number of socially liberal policies, including same-sex civil unions, the decriminalization of sex work, and the easing of abortion restrictions in the third trimester.

Brigitta later won reelection in the 1992 election, but did not serve through the entire term. In May 1993, Brigitta publicly announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer; she had a good prognosis and did not fear for her life, but wanted to prioritize her health and the well-being of the country by stepping down as Prime Minister. After her announcement, a leadership election was declared, where Brigitta's former political rival Katrín Björk Maríusdætr was elected party leader. After the conclusion of the leadership election, Brigitta stepped down and was replaced by Katrín Björk.

### Political journalism and commentating

After being declared cancer-free and going into remission in November 1993, Brigitta stated that she wished to reenter public life, although she did not plan on running for political office ever again. In June 1995, she began writing as a political journalist for *Daghöga Vælkjáthkurath*, the same newspaper that her father had wrote for. Brigitta's articles chronicled Velkanian elections, political proposals, and opinion pieces on Velkanian politicians. She wrote for the newspaper for several years, until leaving in November 2001. Afterwards, she was hired by VTV to serve as a political correspondent during their politics news coverage. She has remained working in this capacity ever since, and continues to be a household name and popular figure for her position.

## Personal life

Brigitta began dating staffer and future politician Unnbjörn Pálsson in 1972, after having met at a Social Democratic Party conference. They became engaged in 1974, and later married the following year. Unnbjörn began working for Laíla María Bjarnarsdætr in 1974, and later helped Brigitta get a job in her office in 1976. Brigitta and Unnbjörn had one daughter: Ragnhildur, born  (1980-01-05) 5 January 1980 (age 44). Ragnhildur is a political commentator for VTV, working directly with her mother. Unnbjörn died on 14 June 2012 of cardiac arrest brought on by heart disease.

Brigitta is a dual citizen of both the Velkanian Isles and Forsland; she was born a Forsish citizen and received Velkanian citizenship after the restoration of independence in 1966. After receiving Velkanian citizenship, Brigitta renounced her Forsish citizenship in solidarity with Velkanian independence. She reapplied on the basis of descent shortly afterwards, and was regranted Forsish citizenship.