Change of Government
May 23, 2003
Change of Government
From the Secretary of the State Council
At a meeting of the State Council at Bessastaðir today the President of Iceland approved a proposal by the Prime Minister to dissolve his third cabinet.
The President of Iceland approved a proposal by Member of Parliament Davíð Oddsson on the appointment of his fourth cabinet and issued the following declaration on the division of duties among ministers:
"In accordance with a proposal by the Prime Minister and with reference to Art. 15 of the Constitution and to laws and regulations on the Government of Iceland, the duties of ministers are divided as follows:
Davíð Oddsson: Prime Minister's Office and Statistics Iceland.
Halldór Ásgrímsson: Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Árni Magnússon: Ministry of Social Affairs.
Árni M. Mathiesen: Ministry of Fisheries.
Björn Bjarnason: Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs.
Geir Hilmar Haarde: Ministry of Finance.
Guðni Ágústsson: Ministry of Agriculture.
Jón Kristjánsson: Ministry of Health and Social Security.
Siv Friðleifsdóttir: Ministry for the Environment.
Sturla Böðvarsson: Ministry of Communications.
Tómas Ingi Olrich: Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.
Valgerður Sverrisdóttir: Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
With this declaration, earlier provisions for the division of tasks among ministers cease to be in force."
Secretary of the State Council, May 23, 2003.