Press release

17 October 1997

Change of government

Following the resignation submitted by Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland's government, in an extraordinary session of the Council of State on 13 October, the King in the session of the Council at 11 a.m. today accepted the resignation as of 1 p.m today. At the same time, the King appointed Kjell Magne Bondevik's government to take over at 1 p.m today.

The King also accepted the resignation of the state secretaries appointed under Mr. Jagland's government.

In an extraordinary session of the Council of State at 1 p.m. today, where the new government will meet for the first time, the King will decide the distribution of ministries. Also, some of the state secretaries will be appointed.

The new government is a coalition representing the Christian Democratic Party (Chr.), the Centre Party (Cent.) and the Liberal Party (Lib.). The Government has the following members:

 

Prime Minister:
Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik (50), Molde, member of Parliament (Chr.)

Ministry of Culture,
and deputy for the Prime Minister :
Ms. Anne Enger Lahnstein (47), Oslo, member of Parliament (Cent.)

Ministry of Children and Family Affairs:
Ms. Valgerd Svarstad Haugland (41), Asker, member of Parliament (Chr.)

Ministry of Trade and Industry,
and responsible for coordination of information technology policy:
Mr. Lars Sponheim (40), Ulvik, member of Parliament (Lib.)

Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Knut Vollebæk (51), Oslo, ambassador (Chr.)

Ministry of Fisheries:
Mr. Peter Angelsen (62), Vestvågøy, fisherman (Cent.)

Ministry of Finance,
and responsible for national and long term planning:
Mr. Gudmund Restad (59), Smøla, member of Parliament (Cent.)

Ministry of Local Government and Labour,
except labour affairs:
Ms. Ragnhild Queseth Haarstad (58), Grue, former member of Parliament (Cent.)

Ministry of Agriculture:
Mr. Kåre Gjønnes (55), Trondheim, county governor (Chr.)

Ministry of Justice and the Police:
Ms. Aud Inger Aure (54), Kristiansund, mayor (Chr.)

Ministry of Planning and Coordination,
and responsible for labour affairs, - from 1 January 1998 chief of a planned ministry of labour and government administration:
Ms. Eldbjørg Løwer (54), Kongsberg, director (Lib.)

Ministry of Transport and Communications:
Mr. Odd Einar Dørum (54), Oslo, member of Parliament (Lib.)

Ministry of Education, Research and Church Affairs:
Mr. Jon Lilletun (51), Kristiansand, Member of Parliament (Chr.)

Ministry of Defence:
Mr. Dag Jostein Fjærvoll (50), Hadsel, headmaster (Chr.)

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs,
responsible for social affairs and department of budget and administration:
Ms. Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa (48), Hjelmeland, member of Parliament (Cent.)

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs,
responsible for health affairs:
Mr. Dagfinn Høybråten (39), Nesodden, director general (Chr.)

Ministry of Oil and Energy:
Ms. Marit Arnstad (35), Stjørdal, former member of Parliament (Cent.)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
responsible for development cooperation, Foreign Minister's deputy:
Ms. Hilde Frafjord Johnson (34), Oslo, member of Parliament (Chr.)

Ministry of the Environment:
Ms. Guro Fjellanger (33), Oslo, deputy party leader (Lib.)

 

This page was last updated October 17 1997 by the editors