Former Icelandic Prime Minister Ásgrímsson dies

Iceland‘s former prime and foreign minister Halldór Ásgrímsson has died at the age of 67.

Ásgrímsson was a key player in Icelandic politics from the early 1980s until he quit politics in 2006.

From 2007 until 2013 he served the role of Secretary General for the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Foreign Minister

Ásgrímsson passed away in a Reykjavík hospital Monday after suffering a heart attack last Friday.

In 1995 he assumed office as minister for foreign affairs, which he served until 2004, when he succeeded Davíð Oddsson as prime minister, while Oddsson replaced Ásgrímsson as minister for foreign affairs.

He served as prime minister for just under two years from September 2004 to June 2006.

He led the Progressive Party from 1994 until 2006.

He first became a member of the Icelandic parliament in 1974. He was minister for fisheries in 1983-91 and minister of justice and ecclesiastical affairs 1988-89.