Melina Krause

**Children** | 2

**Melina Anna Krause** (born 19 March 1986) is a Lungarian-Velkanian politician who has served as a member of the Orthing since 2018. She is a member of the Green-Socialist Party. Krause is the first Lungarian immigrant to serve in parliament in the Velkanian Isles.

Born in Helmröde, Neunzach, Krause graduated from upper secondary school in 2004. She subsequently moved to Munbach to enroll in King's University Munbach, graduating with a business degree in 2007. After graduating, Krause remained in Munbach and worked in publishing. She immigrated to Narísandur in 2009, shortly before marrying her Velkanian husband the following year. After arriving in Narísandur, Krause founded her own restaurant, which serves Lungarian cuisine. She began her political career in 2018, after she was elected to the Orthing for the Green-Socialist Party in the 2018 election.

## Early life and education

Krause was born on 19 March 1986 in Helmröde, Neunzach to parents David (born 1957) and Josefin Krause (née *Lehmkühl*; born 1958). Her father worked in publishing, while her mother is a homemaker. Krause is the eldest of three children; her younger siblings include David, born  (1989-01-28) 28 January 1989 (age 34), and Sara, born  (1991-11-09) 9 November 1991 (age 32).

Krause began her education in 1992, attending a local, public primary school in Helmröde. She graduated from primary school in 1998, and afterwards enrolled in a public gymnasium in Helmröde, graduating in 2004. After completing her upper secondary education, Krause moved to Munbach to enroll in King's University Munbach, where she studied business administration. During the first semester of her final year of studies, Krause spent the semester abroad studying at the University of Narísandur. She ultimately graduated with her degree in 2007.

## Business career

After graduating with her business degree in 2007, Krause was hired as a copy editor at her father's publishing firm Krause-Diederik Publishing, working out of Munbach. However, Krause began to find the work uninteresting and did not envision herself working in the field long-term.

In 2009, she emigrated from Lungary to the Velkanian Isles, settling in Narísandur. After arriving, she founded the restaurant Krauser, with a small loan she received from her parents. Located in Blönlíð, the restaurant serves Lungarian cuisine. It was officially opened in July 2010, and has since been included in numerous "best of" lists chronicling restaurants in Narísandur. From its opening until 2018, Krause has served as the restaurant's owner and manager; she resigned from her managerial position in 2018, in order to prioritize her political career.

In 2016, she purchased the lot adjacent to the restaurant, and opened the café Josefin in October 2016. She served as the cafe's manager until January 2017, but has continued to own the establishment.

## Political career

### Member of parliament

Krause began her political career in 2018, after he was included on the electoral list of the Green-Socialist Party for the 2018 election. She ultimately was elected to the Orthing, and took her seat on 30 March 2018. Upon her election, she became the first Lungarian immigrant to serve in parliament.

## Personal life

Krause began a relationship with Velkanian journalist Kristján Jörgensson in 2006, after meeting while Krause was studying abroad at the University of Narísandur. They continued their relationship long-distance, until Krause permanently moved to Narísandur in 2009. They became engaged in 2009, and later married the following year. Krause and Kristján have two children together: Katrín Elisabeth, born  (2011-12-17) 17 December 2011 (age 12), and Magnús Karl, born  (2014-06-01) 1 June 2014 (age 9). The family resides in Blönvogur.

Krause naturalized as a Velkanian citizen in 2017, and now holds dual Velkanian and Lungarian citizenship. She is fluent in Lungarian, Velkanian, and Ditrovian, and has referred to learning the Velkanian language as one of the "most difficult experiences."