Following the resignation submitted by Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik’s Government, in the session of the Council of State on 10 March, the King in the Council’s extraordinary session at 10 am today accepted the resignation as of noon today. At the same time, the King appointed Jens Stoltenberg’s Government to take over at noon today.

As of noon today the King also accepted the resignations of the state secretaries appointed under Mr. Bondevik’s government, while the resignations of the outgoing government’s political advisors were accepted by the Prime Minister’s Office.

In an extraordinary session of the Council of State at noon today, where the already appointed Stoltenberg government will meet for the first time, the King will decide the distribution of ministries in the new government. A number of state secretaries will be appointed.

The new government is a minority government representing the Labour Party, and has the following members:

Prime Minister:
Mr. Jens Stoltenberg (41), Member of Parliament, Oslo

Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland (49), Member of Parliament, Lier

Minister of Defence:
Mr. Bjørn Tore Godal (55), Member of Parliament, Oslo

Minister of Trade and Industry:
also responsible for the coordination of government policy on information technology:
Ms. Grete Knudsen (59), Member of Parliament, Bergen

Minister of Labour and Government Administration:
Mr. Jørgen Kosmo (52), Member of Parliament, Borre

Minister of Finance:
Mr. Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen (40), Member of Parliament, Vardø

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development:
Ms. Sylvia Brustad (33), Member of Parliament, Engerdal

Minister of Health:
Mr. Tore Tønne (52), group managing director, Drammen

Minister of Cultural Affairs:
Ms. Ellen Horn (49), theatre manager, Oslo

Minister of Social Affairs:
Ms. Guri Ingebretsen (47), mayor, Vestvågøy

Minister of Transport and Communications:
Mr. Terje Moe Gustavsen (45), director, Vestby

Minister of Fisheries:
Mr. Otto Gregussen (43), managing director, Trondheim

Minister of Development Cooperation,
foreign minister’s deputy:
Ms. Anne Kristin Sydnes (43), director, Oslo

Minister of the Environment:
Ms. Siri Bjerke (41), director, Oslo

Minister of Agriculture:
Mr. Bjarne Håkon Hanssen (37), Member of Parliament, Namsos

Minister of Justice and the Police:
Ms. Hanne Harlem (35), deputy director, Oslo

Minister of Children and Family Affairs:
Ms. Karita Bekkemellem Orheim (35), Member of Parliament, Molde

Minister of Oil and Energy:
Mr. Olav Akselsen (34), Member of Parliament, Stord

Minister of Education, Research and Church Affairs:
Mr. Trond Giske (33), Member of Parliament, Trondheim

Minister for Nordic Cooperation: