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Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
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{{Short description|President of Iceland from 1980 to 1996}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Icelandic name|Vigdís}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | image = Vigdis Finnbogadottir (1985).jpg | caption = Vigdís in 1985 | order = 4th | office = President of Iceland | primeminister = [[Gunnar Thoroddsen]]<br />[[Steingrímur Hermannsson]]<br />[[Þorsteinn Pálsson]]<br />[[Davíð Oddsson]] | term_start = 1 August 1980 | term_end = 1 August 1996 | predecessor = [[Kristján Eldjárn]] | successor = [[Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1930|04|15|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Reykjavík]], [[Kingdom of Iceland|Iceland]] | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = [[University of Paris]]<br />[[Université Grenoble Alpes|University of Grenoble]]<br />[[University of Copenhagen]]<br />[[University of Iceland]] | spouse = {{marriage|Ragnar Arinbjarnar|1954|1961|end=div}} | children = 1 }} ''' Vigdís Finnbogadóttir''' ({{IPA|is|ˈvɪɣtis ˈfɪnpɔɣaˌtouʰtɪr̥|lang|Is-Vigdis finnbogadottir.oga}}; born 15 April 1930) is an Icelandic politician who served as the fourth [[president of Iceland]] from 1980 to 1996, the first woman to hold the position and the first in the world to be democratically elected president of a country.{{efn|[[Isabel Perón]] was the first woman in the world who served as President (1974), but she had been elected Vice President (1973) and only took office by [[Argentine presidential line of succession|succession]], when her husband President [[Juan Perón]] died in office. [[Khertek Anchimaa-Toka]] in 1940 was the first non-royal female head of state in the modern era, but was titled Chairwoman of the Presidium. The first female head of government after an election was [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]], who became the Prime Minister of [[Dominion of Ceylon|Ceylon]] in 1960.}} Having served for 16 years, she was also the longest-serving elected female head of state in history. Vigdís is a [[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador]] and a member of the [[Club of Madrid]]. ==Early life and career== Vigdís was born on 15 April 1930 in [[Reykjavík]].<ref name="icelandmonitor">{{Cite web |title=Former President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Turns 90 Today |url=https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2020/04/15/former_president_vigdis_finnbogadottir_turns_90_tod/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=Iceland Monitor}}</ref> Her father was a [[civil engineer]], and her mother was a nurse who headed the national nurses association.<ref name="Inga">{{Cite book |last=Snaebjornsson |first=Inga Minelgaite |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-44758-2 |title=Women Leaders in Chaotic Environments: Examinations of Leadership Using Complexity Theory |date=2016 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-44758-2 |editor-last=Erçetin |editor-first=Şefika Şule |series=Lecture Notes in Social Networks |pages=35–47 |chapter="President Vigdís": The End and the Beginning of Women’s Agenda in Iceland |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-44758-2 |s2cid=1414678 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>{{Rp|page=41}} The following year, her younger brother Þorvaldur was born; he did not survive to adulthood, as he drowned in [[Hreðavatn]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Einarsdóttir |first=Júlía Margrét |date=19 April 2020 |title="Ég missti þann förunaut sem hefði fylgt mér alla ævi" |url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/menning-og-daegurmal/2020-04-19-eg-missti-thann-forunaut-sem-hefdi-fylgt-mer-alla-aevi/ |website=RÚV}}</ref> Vigdís enrolled at the [[University of Grenoble]] in 1949, later switching to [[Sorbonne University|the Sorbonne]].<ref name="icelandmag">{{Cite web |title=First female head of state, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, elected 35 years ago today |url=https://icelandmag.is/article/first-female-head-state-vigdis-finnbogadottir-elected-35-years-ago-today |date=June 29, 2015|access-date=2023-10-07 |website=Icelandmag |language=en}}</ref> She studied English and French literature, giving special emphasis to plays,<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=41}} and she graduated in 1953.<ref name="icelandmag" /> Vigdís was married in 1954.<ref name="icelandmag" /> The same year, she began acting,<ref name="France24">{{Cite web |date=2020-07-31 |title=Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the world's first elected female president |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200731-vigdis-finnbogadottir-the-world-s-first-elected-female-president |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> co-founding a theatre group. She also worked on the translation of several French plays.<ref name="icelandmonitor" /> She enrolled at the [[University of Copenhagen]] in 1957, where she studied theatre history until the following year.<ref name="icelandmag" /> She was divorced in 1963.<ref name="icelandmag" /> Vigdís participated in the anti-military rallies that took place in the 1960s and 1970s, protesting the United States military presence in Iceland.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=41}} Vigdís adopted a daughter in 1972,<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=42}} making her the first single woman in Iceland to adopt a child.<ref name="icelandmag" /> Vigdís taught French lessons on television for [[RÚV]] beginning in 1972, making her a well known figure throughout the nation.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=41}} In the same year, she was appointed the artistic director of the [[Reykjavík Theatre Company]].<ref name="France24" /> She became a member of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs in the Nordic Countries in 1976, and the organisation's chair in 1978.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=41}} She continued in all of these positions until she became [[President of Iceland]] in 1980.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=41}}<ref name="France24" /> Other jobs she held early in life included her work as a French teacher at several colleges, including at the [[University of Iceland]], and her work as a tour guide with the Icelandic Tourist Bureau in the summers. She eventually became the head of the Icelandic Tourist Bureau.<ref name="icelandmag" /> ==Presidency (1980–1996)== Vigdís ran in the [[1980 Icelandic presidential election|1980 presidential election]].<ref name="Topping">{{Cite news |last=Topping |first=Alexandra |date=2017-12-07 |title=There's proof: electing women radically improves life for mothers and families |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/06/iceland-women-government-better-for-mothers-america-lessons |access-date=2023-10-07 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> During her campaign, her anti-military position and her opposition to a United States presence in Iceland led to allegations that she was sympathetic to communism.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title="What now happens in the world is utterly awful," Vigdís Finnbogadóttir |url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2016/10/what-now-happens-world-utterly-awful-vigdis-finnbogadottir |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=The Independent Barents Observer |date=29 October 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Vigdís ran for president to prove that women were able to lead political campaigns, and she did not expect to win.<ref name="Topping" /> Despite this, Vigdís won the election on 29 June 1980.<ref name="icelandmag" /> The vote was split among four candidates, and she prevailed with 33.6% of the vote.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=42}} Vigdís was the first woman to ever be democratically elected as a [[head of state]] in any country, taking office on 1 August 1980 as the fourth president of Iceland.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=39}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2016/11/08/history_the_world_s_first_democratically_elected_fe/|title=History: The world's first democratically elected female president|website=Iceland Monitor|date=November 8, 2016}}</ref><ref name="France24" /> The number of women in the [[Althing]] increased significantly after her election.<ref name="Topping" /> Vigdís was re-elected without opposition in the [[1984 Icelandic presidential election|1984 presidential election]].<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=36}} She oversaw the [[Reykjavík Summit]] on 11–12 October 1986 between American president [[Ronald Reagan]] and Soviet president [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], which is credited with improving relations between the countries and bringing the [[Cold War]] closer to an end.<ref name=":5" /> In the [[1988 Icelandic presidential election|1988 presidential election]], Vigdís became the first incumbent president of Iceland to face a challenger in the presidential election. The challenger fared poorly, and Vigdís won with 92.7% of the vote.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=42}} She was again re-elected without opposition in 1992.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=36}} Though the Icelandic presidency is mostly ceremonial, Vigdís became an active president, using the role to represent the nation and to inform the national identity through cultural initiatives.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=42}} Vigdís is an [[environmentalist]], and used her presidency as a platform to advocate for environmental issues. She led a campaign for [[reforestation]] in Iceland, and called for the prevention of [[topsoil loss]].<ref name="icelandmag" /> Vigdís is also a [[pacifist]],<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=42}} and she describes herself as a "peace person".<ref name=":5" /> She was also an advocate for [[gay rights]] as president.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=43}} The decision Vigdís considered "the most difficult episode" of her career took place in 1994 during the debate on joining the [[European Economic Area]]. A strong opposition existed against [[European integration]] in Iceland, but Vigdís supported the [[European Union]] and [[European integration]], and she refused to use her presidential [[veto]] to block Iceland's association with the European Economic Area.<ref name="France24" /> Vigdís decided not to run for a fifth term as president, and her tenure ended in August 1996.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=42}} She served for 16 years. To date, she is the longest-serving female elected head of state in recorded history.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|page=43}}[[File:President Ronald Reagan walks with President Vigdis Finnbogadottir of Iceland.jpg|thumb|During the [[Reykjavík Summit]], President [[Ronald Reagan]] walks with Vigdis at [[Bessastaðir]]]] ==Post-presidency== Vigdís became the founding chair of the [[Council of Women World Leaders]] in 1996, and she was first chair of the World Commission on the Ethics in Scientific Knowledge and Technology from 1997 to 2001.<ref name="Inga" />{{Rp|pages=36–37}} Since 1998, Vigdís has served as [[UNESCO]]'s [[Goodwill Ambassador]] for languages.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-06-22 |title=H.E. Vigdís Finnbogadottir |url=https://en.unesco.org/goodwill-ambassadors/vigdis-finnbogadottir |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=UNESCO |language=en}}</ref> She is also a member of the [[Jacques Chirac Foundation for Sustainable Development and Cultural Dialogue|Fondation Chirac]]'s honour committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fondationchirac.eu/en/foundation/honour-committee/|title=Honor Committee|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> Vigdís continued her peace advocacy after her tenure as president ended. In 2016, she expressed her desire for the United States and Russia to visit Iceland to resolve their differences through discussion as they did during the Reykjavík Summit. She has described the relations between the two countries as a new Cold War.<ref name=":5" /> Vigdís is a member of the [[Club of Madrid]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Club of Madrid: Full Members | publisher=[[Club of Madrid]] | year = 2019 | url = http://www.clubmadrid.org/miembro/vigdis-finnbogadottir/ | access-date =27 October 2019}}</ref> == Honours == ===National honours=== *{{Flag|Iceland}}: Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the Falcon]] (1 August 1980)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://falkadb.forseti.is/orduskra/fal03.php?term=Vigd%EDs+Finnbogad%F3ttir&sub=Leita|archive-url=http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20160827074419/http://falkadb.forseti.is/orduskra/fal03.php?term=Vigd%EDs+Finnbogad%F3ttir&sub=Leita|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2016|title=Icelandic Presidency Website|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> ===Foreign honours=== *{{Flag|Denmark}}: **[[File:Orderelefant ribbon.png|70px]] Knight of the [[Order of the Elephant]] (25 February 1981) *{{Flag|Sweden}}: **[[File:Order of the Seraphim - Ribbon bar.svg|70px]] Knight with Collar of the [[Royal Order of the Seraphim]] (8 October 1981; collar 1987) *{{Flag|Norway}}: **[[File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg|70px]] Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of St. Olav]] (1982) *{{Flag|Finland}}: **[[File:FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR.png|70px]] Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the White Rose]] (1982)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunnan suurristin ketjuineen ulkomaalaiset saajat |date=9 October 2020 |publisher=Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ja Suomen Leijonan ritarikunnat |access-date=14 December 2023 |url= https://ritarikunnat.fi/ritarikunnat/palkitut/suomen-valkoisen-ruusun-ritarikunnan-suurristin-ketjuineen-ulkomaalaiset-saajat/ |language=fi}}</ref> *{{Flag|Netherlands}}: **[[File:Order of the Netherlands Lion ribbon - Knight Grand Cross.svg|70px]] Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]] (18 September 1985)<ref>State visit, 1994, [http://www.anp-archief.nl/page/2225053/nl Photo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603071913/http://www.anp-archief.nl/page/2225053/nl |date=3 June 2013 }} of Beatrix, Claus and Icelandese President</ref> *{{Flag|Spain}}: **[[File:Order of Charles III - Sash of Collar.svg|70px]] Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of Charles III]] (11 September 1985)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1985/09/14/pdfs/A29024-29024.pdf|title=Boletín Oficial del Estado|website=boe.es |date=September 14, 1985}}</ref> *{{Flag|United Kingdom}}: **[[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|70px]] Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Bath]] (25 June 1990)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.fi/detail/news-photo/queen-elizabeth-ii-and-prince-philip-with-president-vigdis-news-photo/52105346|title=Queen Iceland|website=gettyimages.fi |date=June 25, 1990|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> ===Honorary degrees=== *[[Bordeaux Montaigne University|Université Bordeaux Montaigne]], (former Université Bordeaux 3), [[France]] (1987)<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/C76-lTtoLbX/?igsh=MXV4ZDBqZDFsYWZkOA== Université Bordeaux Montaigne IG]</ref> *[[Norwegian University of Science and Technology|University of Trondheim]], [[Norway]] (1993)<ref>{{cite news | title = President Vigdis blir æresdoktor ved UNIT | newspaper=[[Aftenposten]] | year = 1993 | url = http://eavis.aftenposten.no/aftenposten/71156/archive/demo/?page=10&query=vigdis+finnbogadottir+trondheim | access-date =2 August 2010}}</ref> == See also == * [[List of the first women holders of political offices]] ==References== {{notelist}} {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150204072353/http://english.forseti.is/FormerPresidents/VigdisFinnbogadottir Official CV] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y7rK_Av65Y Video interview by the Nordic Culture Fund] {{in lang|da}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpaTJan8zsw Video interview by the School of Humanities of the University of Iceland] {{in lang|is}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWp-NNqtL-k Video message for the Women in Parliaments Global Forum] {{in lang|en}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Kristján Eldjárn]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[President of Iceland]]|years=1980–1996}} {{s-aft|after={{nowrap|[[Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson]]}}}} |- {{s-dip}} {{s-new|office}} {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Council of Women World Leaders]]|years=1996–1999}} {{s-aft|after=[[Kim Campbell]]}} {{s-end}} {{Presidents of Iceland}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Finnbogadottir, Vigdis}} [[Category:1930 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Presidents of Iceland|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:Politicians from Reykjavík|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:UNESCO goodwill ambassadors]] [[Category:Grenoble Alpes University alumni]] [[Category:Harvard Kennedy School staff]] [[Category:University of Paris alumni]] [[Category:University of Copenhagen alumni]] [[Category:University of Iceland alumni|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:Academic staff of the University of Iceland|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:Women presidents in Europe]] [[Category:Icelandic women in politics|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour]] [[Category:Recipients of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Netherlands Lion]] [[Category:Order of the White Rose of Finland]] [[Category:Knights Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] [[Category:Grand Crosses Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] [[Category:Honorary Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] [[Category:Honorary Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] [[Category:20th-century women presidents]] [[Category:Icelandic women diplomats|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:20th-century Icelandic politicians|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:Female heads of state]] [[Category:Icelandic expatriates in France|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Falcon|Vigdis Finnbogadottir]] [[Category:First women presidents]] [[Category:20th-century presidents in Europe]]
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