Answer
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson was elected president of Iceland in 1996. Prior to being elected president, he was Minister of Finance from 1988 to 1991. In this role, he oversaw the implementation of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) stabilization program for Iceland, which helped to stabilize the country's economy after the collapse of its banking system in 1986. As president, Grímsson has been a strong advocate for Iceland's independence and sovereignty.