Ólöf Parvita Hildardattir

*This name uses Velkanian naming customs; the last name is a matronymic, not a family name. This person should be properly referred to by the given name* Ólöf.

**Ólöf Parvita Hildardattir** (born 22 June 1978) is a Velkanian politician who has served as leader of the Social Democratic Party since 2018, becoming the third woman to lead the party and the first racial minority to lead any parliamentary party in the Velkanian Isles. Ólöf has additionally served as a member of the Orthing since 2010, becoming the first person of Helonesian descent and the first person of Tirian descent elected to parliament in the Velkanian Isles.

Born in Kristganes to a Velkanian mother and a father from Tiria, Ólöf graduated from Narísandur Academy in 1998. After graduating, she enrolled in the University of Velkania, graduating with a degree in international relations in 2001. Following the completion of her education, Ólöf moved to Pagar for two-and-a-half years, where she worked with non-governmental organizations in constructing plumbing facilities for small villages. She returned to the Velkanian Isles in 2004, where she began working as a foreign policy coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2008, she became the deputy chief foreign policy advisor on Helonesian policy. Ólöf left her career in foreign policy in 2010, after being elected to the Orthing in the 2010 election. Shortly after her election, Ólöf was described as a "rising star" within the party.

Following the party's major loss in the 2014 election, Ólöf was cited as a possible candidate to succeed the retiring Davíð Brynnsteinsson in the 2014 leadership election, although she ultimately declined to run. Following the election of Ólafur Hallgrímarson as Davíð's successor, Ólöf emerged as an opposition figure to Ólafur's leadership. In interviews, Ólöf accused Ólafur of "divisive leadership," frequently criticizing his perceived inability to compromise and work with politicians on other sides of the political spectrum. Following the party's devastating defeat in the 2018 election, amidst numerous controversies surrounding Ólafur, he ultimately tendered his resignation as party leader. Ólöf declared her candidacy in the subsequent leadership election, ultimately being elected leader. She took office on 4 June 2018, becoming the third woman to lead the Social Democrats and first racial minority to ever lead a parliamentary party in the Velkanian Isles.

## Early life, education, and career

Ólöf was born on 22 June 1978 in Kristganes to parents Nadovti Gardajobe (born 1947) and Hildur Sigurdís Magnúsdattir (born 1945). Both of her parents worked as lawyers, and met while law students at the University of Velkania. Her father is originally from Balaj, Gannagama in Tiria, and came to the Velkanian Isles to study on a scholarship from the Ministry of Education and Culture in the 1960s. Ólöf is the youngest of three children and only daughter; her elder brothers are Magnús Devmare, born  (1975-04-12) 12 April 1975 (age 48), and Karl Oberi, born  (1976-11-23) 23 November 1976 (age 47).

Growing up, Ólöf spoke both Velkanian and Tiri, and has stated that she faced racist bullying from her peers. She began her education in 1984, attending a local, public primary school in Kristganes, where she was a high academic achiever. She graduated from primary school in 1994, and subsequently enrolled in Narísandur Academy, commuting from Kristganes to Narísandur to attend school. At the school, she studied a languages and literature program, and graduated in 1998. After graduating, Ólöf enrolled in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Velkania, graduating with a degree in international relations in 2001. While a university student, Ólöf was elected to the student council for her second and third years, as a member of the Lýsa student union.

After graduating, Ólöf moved to Pagar in order to "connect with [her] roots," and began working with the nongovernmental organization Esha, where she assisted in constructing plumbing facilities in small villages that previously did not have access to water or sanitation. After four months of working as a manual laborer for the organization, Ólöf moved into a white-collar position within the organization, organizing builds rather than participating in the builds themselves. She returned to the Velkanian Isles in 2004, after receiving a position as a foreign policy coordinator for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2008, she became the deputy chief foreign policy advisor on Helonesian policy.

## Political career

### Early politics

Ólöf began her political career in 2010, after being selected to stand in the 2010 election for the Social Democrats. She ultimately was elected to the Orthing, and took her seat on 29 March 2010. With her election, she became the first person of partial Helonesian descent and the first person of Tirian descent elected to parliament in the Velkanian Isles. Immediately after her election, Ólöf was cited in the media as a "rising star" within the party, and a possible "leader of tomorrow." She additionally was instantly the subject of comparison to Sif María Vilhjálmardattir, who represented a similar younger, female politician that was steadily rising in the ranks of the Liberal-Conservative Party. When asked about each other, both Ólöf and Sif stated that while they disagreed on policy, they both saw the other as a strong leader and capable politician.

After taking her seat in parliament, Ólöf aligned herself with the faction of Social Democrats associating closely with Davíð Brynnsteinsson, then-party leader and Prime Minister. In the run-up to the 2014 election, the media began reporting that Ólöf would be a likely contender for Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the party's loss in the election, Davíð confirmed that he would resign as party leader and Prime Minister, thus triggering a leadership election. Considered a frontrunner to succeed him, Ólöf ultimately decided not to enter the election, instead endorsing the candidacy of Jóhanna María Kristgeirsdattir. After Ólafur Hallgrímarson, a member of the party's hard-left, won the election, Ólöf stated that while she disagreed with him on some policy matters, she would still support him as party leader moving forwards.

In 2015, former one-time Social Democratic candidate Ásleif Guðlín Erlendardattir accused Ólafur and the party of having "widespread issues with transparency" and a "hierarchy fueled by *quid pro quo* and treachery." While Ólöf initially remained silent on the allegations, as public opinion began to shift against Ólafur, particularly following his response to the allegations which were identified as belittling and condescending towards Ásleif, Ólöf began to emerge as a prominent critic of his. The controversy led to a widespread decrease in seats for the party in the 2018 election, afterwards Ólöf led the call for Ólafur to resign as party leader. In interviews, she accused Ólafur of "divisive leadership," frequently criticizing his perceived inability to compromise and work with politicians on other sides of the political spectrum.

### Party leader

On 25 March 2018, Ólafur tendered his resignation as party leader and a leadership election was called. Emerging as a favorite to win the election, Ólöf announced her candidacy on 28 March, subsequently receiving the endorsements of numerous party elites. She faced only Ólafur protégée Róberta Ótta Pálsdattir in the leadership election, going on to be declared the winner after receiving 58.5% of the vote. She officially took office as party leader on 4 June 2018, becoming the third woman to lead the Social Democrats and the first racial minority to ever lead a parliamentary party in the Velkanian Isles.

Immediately after taking office as party leader, Ólöf called a meeting with Ásleif Guðlín Erlendardattir in order to discuss the concerns that she had within the party's leadership. In an interview later that month, Ásleif stated that her "questions were answered," and that she had "faith" Ólöf would be a strong leader of the party. As party leader, Ólöf will lead the Social Democrats into the next general election.

## Personal life

Ólöf met Velkanian nongovernmental organization employee Óskar Davíð Hallþórsson in 2003, while both were working for Esha in Pagar. They had initially become acquainted as they were the only two Velkanians at the organization. They moved to Narísandur in 2004, later becoming engaged in 2005, and marrying the following year. They have two children together: Lára María, born  (2008-01-04) 4 January 2008 (age 16), and Kristján Pál, born  (2012-05-08) 8 May 2012 (age 11). The family resides in the Þórlákstaður neighborhood of Narísandur.

Ólöf can speak Velkanian, Tiri, Framish, Ditrovian, and Ganna, although she has stated that her grasp on the Ganna language is "quite flimsy." While she is irreligious, she was raised "closely" with Tirism, and finds it "fascinating." She has held solely Velkanian citizenship since birth, as Tiria does not recognize dual citizenship, although she does hold an Overseas Citizen of Tiria (OCT) card.