Elísabet Jakobsdætr

*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* Elísabet*.*

**Elísabet Jakobsdætr** (born 1 April 1957) is a Velkanian politician and physician who has served as Minister of Public Health since 2012. A Liberal-Democrat, Elísabet has additionally served as a member of the Stádlink since 2004.

Elísabet was born and raised in Naríthjábæk, later graduating from Naríthjábæk Junior College in 1976. After finishing her high school education, Elísabet enrolled in medical school at the University of Velkania, graduating with her medical degree in 1982. After graduating, she moved to Jællkullythárjókur and completed her residency training at Jællkullythárjókur Central Hospital in 1985. Elísabeth then returned to Naríthjábæk and began working as a general practitioner at a mid-sized medical office. After working as a medical professional for almost 20 years, Elísabet was elected to the Stádlink for the Liberal-Democrats in the 2004 election, representing the Capital Region constituency. Elísabet was later appointed Minister of Public Health 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

Elísabet was born on 1 April 1957 in Naríthjábæk to parents Jakob Hafnisson (1927–2013) and Gréta Martinsdætr (born 1929). Her father worked in trade, while her mother was a paralegal. Elísabet is the eldest of three children; her younger siblings include Brynmar, born  (1959-02-12) 12 February 1959 (age 64), and Anna Berit, born  (1961-08-03) 3 August 1961 (age 62). Elísabet grew up in a Conservative family, who were opposed to Velkanian independence, although she later began to disagree with her family on politics by the time she was a teenager.

### Education and medical career

Elísabet began her education in 1963, attending a local public primary school in Naríthjábæk. She had wanted to become a doctor since being a young child, frequently expressing an interest in medicine and helping others. Elísabet graduated from primary school in 1973, and later began studying a natural sciences and mathematics program at Naríthjábæk Junior College. She graduated from high school in 1976.

After finishing her high school education, Elísabet enrolled in the Ásthór Jósteinnsson Institute of Medicine at the University of Velkania. She completed basic training in 1978, later beginning her clinical education and graduating with a medical degree in 1982. After graduating, Elísabet moved to Jællkullythárjókur to begin her medical residency in general medicine at Jællkullythárjókur Central Hospital. She completed her residency in 1985, and afterwards returned to Naríthjábæk. In Naríthjábæk, Elísabet began working as a general practitioner at a mid-sized medical office. In 1998, she left the office and formed her own private practice with her husband.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

Despite being raised a Conservative, Elísabeth registered with the Liberal-Democrats after turning 16. Disagreeing with the socially conservative policies of the Conservatives, Elísabeth saw the Liberal-Democrats as an outlet for her conservative economic beliefs but liberal social beliefs.

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

### Minister of Public Health

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 Elísabet for the position of Minister of Public Health in her first cabinet. Ragnhildur IV formally appointed Elísabet as Minister of Public Health 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 Elísabet to remain in her capacity as Minister of Public Health in her second cabinet.

## Personal life

Elísabet began a relationship with Velkanian dermatologist Pétur Freybjörnsson in 1985. They later became engaged in 1989, and married the following year. Elísabet and Pétur have two sons together: Nökkvi, born  (1992-07-18) 18 July 1992 (age 31), and Óli, born  (1994-09-02) 2 September 1994 (age 29), both of whom are pursuing careers in medicine. The family resides in the Fjallassandur district of Naríthjábæk.