Former Prime Minister Davíð Oddsson Passes Away

2026-03-02 - 09:16

Davíð Oddsson, Iceland’s longest-serving Prime Minister and later, editor of Morgunblaðið newspaper, has died aged 78. As reported by Morgunblaðið earlier this morning, he passed away at his home in Skerjafjörður yesterday. What's the Story? Davíð Oddsson died aged 78 at his home in Skerjafjörður; death announced by Morgunblaðið Served as Mayor of Reykjavík (1982–1991), Prime Minister (1991–2004), and Governor of the Central Bank of Iceland (2005–2009) Leader of the Independence Party from 1991; editor of Morgunblaðið from 2009 until his death; presidential candidate in 2016 (13.7% of vote) Alþingi parliament building in Reykjavik. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain. Political era ends Born in Reykjavík on 17 January 1948, Davíð Oddsson qualified in law after studying at the University of Iceland. He entered politics with the Independence Party and was elected to Reykjavík City Council in 1974. From 1982 to 1991, he served as Mayor of Reykjavík, overseeing structural changes in municipal administration and major building projects, including Reykjavík City Hall and the conversion of former hot water tanks into Perlan. He became leader of the Independence Party in 1991 and was appointed Prime Minister the same year. He remained in office for 13 years, forming coalition governments first with the People’s Party and later with the Progressive Party. His time in government was marked by privatisation, financial market liberalisation and tax reforms. After stepping down as Prime Minister in 2004, Davíð was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Iceland in 2005. He left