Office of the Prime Minister (1939–)

Established: 2. October 1939

The Office of the Prime Minister assists the Prime Minister in leading and coordinating the work of the Norwegian Government.

The Office of the Prime Minister was established on 2 October 1939. The outbreak of war in Europe made it necessary to relieve the Prime Minister from being head of a government ministry. The plan was to merge the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of State Secretariat. Nazi Germany’s attack on Norway on 9 April 1940 halted this.

During the Government’s exile in London in the Second World War 1940-1945 and in Oslo after 1945, the Office of the Prime Minister grew to a secretariat with temporary posts. The Council of State Secretariat continued as secretariat for constitutional affairs.

On 1 January 1956, the Office of the Prime Minister was given permanent political and administrative posts.

On 1 July 1969, the Council of State Secretariat was abolished and its affairs transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister.

***

The office as prime minister was introduced in Norway after the Storting on 4 November 1814 approved the union with Sweden. From now the Prime Minister had various secretariats. Until 1873 he was head of the Norwegain Council of State Division in Stockholm, with the Norwegian State Secretariat Chancery there as his secretariat. In Christiania (Oslo) government work was led by the Swedish-Norwegian King’s Governor-General and the First Minister.

On 4 July 1829, a post as Secretary to the President of the Norwegian Government was established in Christiania, assisting the Governor-General and the First Minister.

On 5 June 1873, the office as Governor-General in Christiania was abolished. On 21 July 1873, the responsibility as Norway’s Prime Minister was transferred from the office as Prime Minister in Stockholm to a new office as Prime Minister in Christiania. This office was now assisted by the State Secretariat and the Secretary to the President of the Norwegian Government. The office as Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm was now ranked after Norway’s Prime Minister in Christiania.

On 7 June 1905, the Storting declared the union with Sweden to be dissolved. The Council of State Division in Stockholm was abolished. In 1906, the post as Secretary to the Prime Minister was also abolished. The Prime Minister was now assisted by the State Secretariat and a civil servant in the ministry he was leading.

On 1 January 1926, the State Secretariat had its name changed to the Council of State Secretariat.

Politicians

Show only currently active roles

Bondevik, Kjell Magne (KrF)
- Prime Minister – Kjell Magne Bondevik' Second Government 19/10/2001–17/10/2005
- Prime Minister - leave of absence – Kjell Magne Bondevik's First Government 31/08/1998–24/09/1998
- Prime Minister – Kjell Magne Bondevik's First Government 17/10/1997–17/03/2000
Borten, Per (Sp)
- Prime Minister – Per Borten's Government 12/10/1965–17/03/1971
Bratteli, Trygve (A)
- Prime Minister – Trygve Bratteli's Second Government 16/10/1973–15/01/1976
- Prime Minister – Trygve Bratteli's First Government 17/03/1971–18/10/1972
Brundtland, Gro Harlem (A)
- Prime Minister – Gro Harlem Brundtland's Third Government 03/11/1990–25/10/1996
- Prime Minister – Gro Harlem Brundtland's Second Government 09/05/1986–16/10/1989
- Prime Minister – Gro Harlem Brundtland's First Government 04/02/1981–14/10/1981
Enger, Anne (Sp)
- Minister of Culture and acting Prime Minister – Kjell Magne Bondevik's First Government 31/08/1998–24/09/1998
Gerhardsen, Einar (A)
- Prime Minister – Einar Gerhardsen's Fourth Government 25/09/1963–12/10/1965
- Prime Minister – Einar Gerhardsen's Third Government 22/01/1955–28/08/1963
- Prime Minister – Einar Gerhardsen's Seond Government 05/11/1945–19/11/1951
- Prime Minister – Einar Gerhardsen's First Government 25/06/1945–05/11/1945
Helgesen, Vidar (H)
- Minister of EEA and EU Affairs – Erna Solberg's Government 16/10/2013–16/12/2015
Jagland, Thorbjørn (A)
- Prime Minister – Thorbjørn Jagland's Government 25/10/1996–17/10/1997
Korvald, Lars (KrF)
- Prime Minister – Lars Korvald's Government 18/10/1972–16/10/1973
Lie, Trygve (A)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs and acting Prime Minister – Johan Nygaardsvold's Government 16/04/1942–07/07/1942
Lyng, John (H)
- Prime Minister – John Lyng s Government 28/08/1963–25/09/1963
Nordli, Odvar (A)
- Prime Minister – Odvar Nordli's Government 15/01/1976–04/02/1981
Nygaardsvold, Johan (A)
- Prime Minister - on travel in the USA and Canada – Johan Nygaardsvold's Government 16/04/1942–07/07/1942
- Prime Minister – Johan Nygaardsvold's Government 02/10/1939–25/06/1945
Schjøtt-Pedersen, Karl Eirik (A)
- Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister - leave of absence – Jens Stoltenberg's Second Government 17/07/2013–20/08/2013
- Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister – Jens Stoltenberg's Second Government 20/10/2009–16/10/2013
Solberg, Erna (H)
- Prime Minister – Erna Solberg's Government 16/10/2013–14/10/2021
Stoltenberg, Jens (A)
- Prime Minister – Jens Stoltenberg's Second Government 17/10/2005–16/10/2013
- Prime Minister – Jens Stoltenberg's First Government 17/03/2000–19/10/2001
Støre, Jonas Gahr (A)
- Prime Minister – Jonas Gahr Støre's Government 14/10/2021–
Stray, Svenn Thorkild (H)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs and acting Prime Minister – Kåre Willoch's Government 17/04/1984–12/06/1984
Syse, Jan P. (H)
- Prime Minister – Jan P. Syse's Government 16/10/1989–03/11/1990
Torp, Oscar Fredrik (A)
- Prime Minister – Oscar Torp's Government 19/11/1951–22/01/1955
Willoch, Kåre (H)
- Prime Minister - leave of absence – Kåre Willoch's Government 17/04/1984–12/06/1984
- Prime Minister – Kåre Willoch's Government 14/10/1981–09/05/1986

Atic, Hannah Sumeja (H)
- Political Adviser (leave of absence) for Solberg, Erna 27/08/2021–14/10/2021
- Political Adviser (acting) for Solberg, Erna 29/02/2020–26/08/2021
Berget, Grete Anni (A)
- Political Adviser (leave of absence) for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 01/03/1991–15/11/1991
- Private Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 03/11/1990–28/02/1991
Beyer, Sindre Fossum (A)
- Political Adviser (leave of absence) for Stoltenberg, Jens 20/05/2010–08/08/2010
- Political Adviser for Stoltenberg, Jens 23/10/2009–16/10/2013
Birkeland, Inger Elise (A)
- Political Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 16/07/1992–25/10/1996
Bjerkaas, Sunniva (A)
- Political Adviser for Støre, Jonas Gahr 15/04/2024–
Bråten, Beret (A)
- Political Adviser for Jagland, Thorbjørn 11/11/1996–17/10/1997
Brenna, Tonje (A)
- Political Adviser for Stoltenberg, Jens 06/08/2012–21/05/2013
Clemet, Kristin (H)
- Private Adviser for Willoch, Kåre 01/05/1986–09/05/1986
- Private Secretary for Willoch, Kåre 01/10/1985–01/05/1986
Dokken, Ståle (A)
- Private Secretary for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 27/02/1989–16/10/1989
Egseth, Peder Weidemann (H)
- Political Adviser (leave of absence) for Solberg, Erna 23/03/2020–01/07/2020
- Political Adviser for Solberg, Erna 14/01/2019–23/03/2020
Eriksrud, Finn Arne (A)
- Private Secretary for Nordli, Odvar 01/01/1980–04/02/1981
Fone, Wenche (KrF)
- Political Adviser (leave of absence) for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 08/03/2004–31/12/2004
- Political Adviser for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 04/08/2003–17/10/2005
Gerhardsen, Mina (A)
- Political Adviser (leave of absence) for Stoltenberg, Jens 18/02/2008–20/10/2008
- Political Adviser for Stoltenberg, Jens 21/10/2005–23/10/2009
Giskås, Emma Svarva (A)
- Political Adviser for Støre, Jonas Gahr 10/01/2022–21/04/2024
Hagen, Ragna (A)
- Private Secretary for Gerhardsen, Einar 25/06/1945–28/06/1945
Hansen, Svein Roald (A)
- Private Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 09/05/1986–16/10/1989
Hansson, Hans Christian Kaurin (H)
- Political Adviser for Solberg, Erna 10/06/2015–12/05/2017
Hernes, Stein (A)
- Political Adviser for Stoltenberg, Jens 22/05/2001–19/10/2001
Hoemsnes, Ole Norvall (H)
- Private Adviser for Borten, Per 01/06/1970–17/03/1971
Hoen-Sevje, Odd (H)
- Political Adviser for Solberg, Erna 12/05/2017–13/01/2019
Instefjord, Gunstein (KrF)
- Political Adviser for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 17/10/1997–17/03/2000
Kjenndalen, Kari (A)
- Political Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 01/07/1992–31/08/1992
- Private Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 01/03/1991–30/06/1992
Kvisberg, Torunn E. (KrF)
- Political Adviser (acting) for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 03/03/2004–31/12/2004
Langeland, Finn (H)
- Private Adviser for Syse, Jan P. 16/10/1989–03/11/1990
Lyshagen, Guttorm Roar (A)
- Political Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 01/08/1996–25/10/1996
Martinsen, Wiktor Asbjørn (A)
- Private Adviser for Nordli, Odvar 13/10/1980–04/02/1981
Meirik, Kathinka (A)
- Political Adviser for Stoltenberg, Jens 17/03/2000–19/10/2001
Meyer, Marit Helene (V)
- Political Adviser for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 15/09/2003–10/01/2005
- Political Adviser (leave of absence) for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 01/12/2002–15/09/2003
Mjærum, Øystein (KrF)
- Political Adviser for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 03/12/2002–17/10/2005
Mo, Norvald (A)
- Political Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 07/09/1992–21/01/1994
Moen, Eirik Ola Hektoen (H)
- Private Adviser for Willoch, Kåre 07/09/1982–03/10/1982
Nilsen, Benedicte Staalesen (H)
- Political Adviser for Helgesen, Vidar 12/11/2013–16/12/2015
Norvik, Harald (A)
- Private Secretary for Nordli, Odvar 06/09/1976–17/09/1979
Osmundsen, Terje (H)
- Private Adviser for Willoch, Kåre 01/12/1983–13/10/1985
- Private Secretary for Willoch, Kåre 14/10/1981–01/12/1983
Ottervik, Rita (A)
- Political Adviser for Jagland, Thorbjørn 11/11/1996–17/10/1997
Ravlum, Inger Anne (A)
- Political Adviser (leave of absence) for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 07/07/1996–25/10/1996
- Political Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 05/04/1994–06/07/1996
Singsaas, Hilde (A)
- Political Adviser for Stoltenberg, Jens 17/03/2000–19/10/2001
Skaug, Tom Erlend (H)
- Political Adviser (acting) for Solberg, Erna 30/06/2014–25/07/2014
Solberg, Harald (KrF)
- Political Adviser for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 19/10/2001–04/08/2003
Sørheim, Ingjald Ørbeck (A)
- Private Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 06/02/1981–14/10/1981
Tajik, Hadia (A)
- Political Adviser (acting) for Stoltenberg, Jens 22/02/2008–20/10/2008
Teigen, Karin (A)
- Private Secretary for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 10/02/1981–14/10/1981
Tollefsen, John Trygve (A)
- Political Adviser (acting) for Stoltenberg, Jens 20/05/2010–08/08/2010
Tørring, Randi Gran (KrF)
- Political Adviser for Bondevik, Kjell Magne 17/10/1997–17/03/2000
Tronstad, Elsbeth Sande (H)
- Private Secretary for Syse, Jan P. 30/10/1989–03/11/1990
Tveten, Rolf Erik (H)
- Political Adviser for Solberg, Erna 16/10/2013–01/07/2015
Valla, Gerd Liv (A)
- Private Adviser for Brundtland, Gro Harlem 12/11/1990–10/01/1992
Vevle, Kjetil (A)
- Political Adviser for Støre, Jonas Gahr 14/10/2021–07/01/2022
von Tetzschner, Jenny Clemet (H)
- Political Adviser (acting) for Solberg, Erna 30/07/2021–14/10/2021

Politicians

Ministers (21)

Political Advisors (49)