Kåre Willoch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kåre Willoch
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Willoch in 1983
|
|
| 30th Prime Minister of Norway | |
| In office 14 October 1981 – 9 May 1986 |
|
| Monarch | Olav V |
| Deputy | Kjell Magne Bondevik |
| Preceded by | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| Succeeded by | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| Leader of the Conservative Party | |
| In office 26 April 1970 – 12 May 1974 |
|
| First Deputy | Erling Norvik Lars T. Platou |
| Second Deputy | Lars T. Platou Per Hysing-Dahl |
| Preceded by | Sjur Lindebrække |
| Succeeded by | Erling Norvik |
| Minister of Trade and Shipping | |
| In office 12 October 1965 – 5 June 1970 |
|
| Prime Minister | Per Borten |
| Preceded by | Trygve Lie |
| Succeeded by | Otto G. Tidemand |
| In office 28 August 1963 – 25 September 1963 |
|
| Prime Minister | John Lyng |
| Preceded by | O. C. Gundersen |
| Succeeded by | Erik Himle |
| President of the Nordic Council | |
| In office 1 January 1973 – 31 December 1973 |
|
| Preceded by | V. J. Sukselainen |
| Succeeded by | Johannes Antonsson |
| Member of the Storting | |
| In office 1 January 1958 – 30 September 1989 |
|
| Deputy | Ivar Moe Astri Rynning Jan P. Syse Annelise Høegh Kari Garmann |
| Constituency | Oslo |
| Deputy Member of the Storting | |
| In office 1 January 1954 – 31 December 1957 |
|
| Constituency | Oslo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kåre Isaachsen Willoch
3 October 1928 Oslo, Norway |
| Died | 6 December 2021 (aged 93) Oslo, Norway |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Anne Marie Jørgensen
(m. 1954) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
|
| Alma mater | University of Oslo |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Norway |
| Branch/service |  Norwegian Army |
Kåre Isaachsen Willoch (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈkòːrə ˈìːsɑksn̩ ˈvɪ̀lːɔk]; born October 3, 1928 – died December 6, 2021) was a famous Norwegian politician. He served as the 30th Prime Minister of Norway from 1981 to 1986. He also led the Conservative Party from 1970 to 1974.
Before becoming Prime Minister, he was the Minister of Trade and Shipping. He held this job twice: first in 1963, and then from 1965 to 1970. In 1973, he was also the president of the Nordic Council. After his time as Prime Minister, he continued to serve his country. He was the Governor of Oslo and Akershus from 1989 to 1998. He also chaired Norway's main TV and radio company, NRK, from 1998 to 2000.
After leaving politics, Kåre Willoch became a strong voice for important causes. He spoke out for the environment and for human rights. Many people, even those who disagreed with him politically, respected his efforts. He also wrote several books.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kåre Willoch was born in Oslo, Norway, on October 3, 1928. His parents were Haakon Isaachsen Willoch and Agnes Christine Saure. He grew up in the western part of Oslo. In 1947, he finished his high school exams.
He then went on to study economics at the University of Oslo. There, he learned from famous professors like Trygve Haavelmo and Ragnar Frisch. He earned his economics degree in 1953. In 1954, he became a deputy in the Norwegian Parliament. He was elected as a full member of parliament in 1957. At 29 years old, he was the youngest member of parliament at that time.
On April 30, 1954, he married Anne Marie Jørgensen.
After World War II, Kåre Willoch served in the Norwegian military. He was part of the Norwegian Brigade in Germany. This experience made him a lifelong friend of Germany. He was also very good at languages. He spoke Norwegian, English, German, and French.
Political Career
Kåre Willoch was an economist by training. He quickly became known in politics for his ideas about how the economy should work. He believed that the government should have less control over the economy. He thought that allowing markets to work more freely would help solve economic problems.
Within the Conservative Party, Kåre Willoch was respected for knowing a lot about different issues. He also had clear ideas about what he believed in. He worked with other party members to shift Norway's politics. They wanted to move away from the strong government control that had been common after World War II.
Roles in Parliament and Government
Kåre Willoch's first political job was on the Oslo City Council. He served there from 1952 to 1959.
He was first elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1957. He represented Oslo. After that, he was elected in every parliamentary election until 1989.
In 1963, he became the Minister of Trade. This was in a short-lived government led by John Lyng. He held the same job again from 1965 to 1970 in the government of Per Borten. He then became the leader of the Conservative Party in Parliament. Later, he became the chairman of the Conservative Party from 1970 to 1974.
In 1973, he helped unite his party against new rules about land use. This was an important moment in Norwegian politics. The Conservative Party offered a different way of thinking compared to the ruling Labour Party.
Kåre Willoch spent most of his political career as part of the opposition. This meant his party was not in power. He often debated with Gro Harlem Brundtland, who was a leader in the Labour Party. Their debates were very famous in Norway.
Becoming Prime Minister
In the 1981 parliamentary elections, parties that were not socialist won more votes. Kåre Willoch was then asked to form a government as Prime Minister. His government needed the support of the Christian Democrats and the Centre Party. In 1983, these parties joined his government, forming a coalition.
During his time as Prime Minister, his government made several big changes. Many of these changes aimed to reduce government control and allow more freedom in the economy.
Some of the important changes included:
- Ending the government's control over radio and television. This allowed new TV channels and radio stations to start.
- Making it easier for people and businesses to get loans and credit.
- Reducing rules about buying and selling homes and land.
- Making it easier for shops to stay open longer.
- Working to make Norway's economy stronger, especially in areas not related to oil.
In 1985, his government lost some support in parliament. It then relied on the Progress Party to pass laws. His government lost a vote of no-confidence over a proposal to increase taxes on gasoline. After this, a new government led by Gro Harlem Brundtland took over.
Kåre Willoch was known for being a very smart and sometimes sharp politician. He was respected by both his friends and his opponents in politics.
Later Life and Activism
After leaving parliament in 1989, Kåre Willoch became the county governor (fylkesmann) of Oslo and Akershus. He held this position until 1998. From 1998 to 2000, he was the chairman of NRK, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. He also served as the deputy chairman of the International Democrat Union (IDU) from 1986.
Even though he was known as a strong conservative politician, in his later years, Kåre Willoch changed his views on many topics. He became well-known for speaking up for human rights and environmental protection. He talked about the importance of protecting the planet and helping people. He also spoke about global issues and the need for fairness.
In 1996, Kåre Willoch received an important honor. He was given the title of Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav.
Kåre Willoch passed away at his home in Oslo on December 6, 2021. He was 93 years old.
Images for kids
-
Willoch in 1983
-
Kåre Willoch's signature
-
Coat of arms of the Norwegian Army
See also
In Spanish: Kåre Willoch para niños
