Unnur Skuggisdætr

*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* Unnur*.*

**Unnur Skuggisdætr** (born 23 December 1966) is a Velkanian politician who has served as Leader of the Conservative Party since 2014. Additionally, Unnur had served as Minister of Welfare and Labor in the second cabinet of Davíd Pétursson from 2008 to 2012, and has served as a member of the Stádlink since 2004.

Born to Velkanian nobility in Naríthjábæk, Unnur graduated from Naríthjábæk Junior College in 1986. After finishing high school, she enrolled in the University of Naríthjábæk and graduated with a degree in finance in 1989. Afterwards, Unnur began working in the finance industry in Naríthjábæk, becoming a financial analyst. Unnur was elected to the Stádlink for the Conservatives in the 2004 election, representing the South Riksania constituency. After serving one term, she was nominated as Minister of Welfare and Labor in the second cabinet of Davíd Pétursson. Shortly before the 2012 election, Unnur ran for party leader in the 2012 leadership election, but lost to Pétur Geimar Skaptisson. She later lost her ministerial position after the governing coalition lost their majority in the 2012 election. Following the resignation of Pétur Geimar, Unnur ran again in the 2014 leadership election and won, becoming only the second woman to lead the Conservative Party, following Alma Jónsdætr.

## Early life and education

Unnur was born on 23 December 1966 in Naríthjábæk to parents Skuggi Skuggisson (born 1922) and Anna Hrólfursdætr (born 1930). Both of her parents came from the Velkanian nobility; her father was employed as a business executive who frequently worked in Hersingborg, while her mother was a housewife and socialite. Unnur has stated that she was raised by nannies for much of her early childhood, and resided in the affluent Fjallassandur neighborhood. She is the youngest of four children; her elder siblings include Skuggi, born  (1959-03-12) 12 March 1959 (age 64), María, born  (1962-07-19) 19 July 1962 (age 61), and Ólafur, born  (1965-01-03) 3 January 1965 (age 59).

Unnur began her education in 1973, attending a private primary school in Búdarverfi. She graduated from primary school in 1983, later beginning high school at Naríthjábæk Junior College, where she studied a business and law program. While a high school student, Unnur was a popular student but frequently felt as if she was academically inadequate compared to her peers, and struggled from depression and anxiety. After graduating from high school in 1986, she enrolled in the Faculty of Business at the University of Naríthjábæk, graduating with a degree in finance in 1989. While a university student, Unnur worked as a semi-professional fashion model and was signed to agencies in Naríthjábæk and Hersingborg; she left modeling after graduating. Afterwards, Unnur began working in the finance industry in Naríthjábæk, becoming a financial analyst.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

Unnur was raised in a politically active family of Conservatives for her entire life, and registered with the Conservative Party upon turning 16. Initially, Unnur was generally uninterested in politics, but began to become more interested during the tenure of Knörr Geirmundursson, whom she greatly admired. Additionally, Unnur greatly disliked Katrín Björk Maríusdætr, whose tenure as Prime Minister inspired her to enter politics.

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

### Minister of Welfare and Labor

After the Conservatives won the 2008 election and reformed their coalition government with the Fors People Party, it was announced by Davíd Pétursson that he would be nominating Unnur for the position of Minister of Welfare and Labor in his second cabinet, after choosing not to re-nominate Erlar Magnússon. Ragnhildur IV formally appointed Unnur as Minister of Welfare and Labor on 1 December 2008.

Months prior to the 2012 election, Davíd announced that he would not be seeking reelection and a leadership election was called. Unnur declared her candidacy and advanced as one of the top four candidates, but later lost to Pétur Geimar Skaptisson. After not returning to the government after the 2012 election, Unnur left her post as Minister and was succeeded by Björnólfur Bjarkisson.

### Leader of the Conservative Party

Amidst a number of sex scandals involving extramarital affairs, Pétur Geimar announced that he would resign as party leader following a 2014 leadership election in 2014. Unnur declared her candidacy and soon emerged as a frontrunner. She advanced to the party members' vote, and later won. She took office as Leader of the Conservative Party on 17 November 2014, becoming the second woman ever to lead the Conservatives, following Alma Jónsdætr.

As party leader, Unnur led the Conservatives into the 2016 election. In the election, the party suffered a massive defeat, losing 20 seats – the most of any party. Afterwards, there were calls for Unnur to resign as party leader, although she refused to do so. Instead, she vowed to shift party policies closer to the center of the political spectrum, similar to the Liberal-Democrats, in order to distinguish themselves from the Independence and Reform Party.

## Personal life

Unnur began a relationship with Velkanian lawyer Eyleifur Kjarvalsson in 1990. They later became engaged in 1993, and married the following year. Unnur and Eyleifur have three children together: Hvönn, born  (1997-10-15) 15 October 1997 (age 26), Ólöf,  (2000-03-09) 9 March 2000 (age 23), and Magnús, born  (2002-04-18) 18 April 2002 (age 21). The family resides in the Fjallassandur district of Naríthjábæk.