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List of heads of government of Norway facts for kids

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This is a list of heads of government of Norway. In the modern era, the head of government has the title prime minister (Norwegian: Statsminister). At various times in the past, the highest governmental title has included steward (Norwegian: Rigsstatholder), viceroy (Norwegian: Vicekonge) and first minister (Norwegian: Førstestatsraad)

Until 1873, the King of the personal union between Sweden and Norway governed Norway through two cabinets: one in Stockholm and another in Christiania (now Oslo). The newly created Stockholm cabinet consisted of a prime minister and two ministers, whose role was to convey the attitudes of the Christiania cabinet to the Swedish King. The cabinet in Christiania was led by a steward (Norwegian: Rigsstatholder). For brief periods, the incumbent crown prince was appointed Viceroy of Norway by the King, in which case the viceroy became the highest authority in Christiania. Whenever the King was present in Christiania, however, he assumed the highest authority, thus putting the governor or viceroy temporarily out of charge. Likewise, when there was no governor, viceroy, or king present in Christiania (which was not unusual), the cabinet was led by the first minister, who was the most prominent member of the cabinet.

In July 1873, the position of governor was abolished after being vacant since 1856. Simultaneously, the post of First Minister in Christiania was upgraded to Prime Minister of Norway. Although the office of Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm still existed, the real power and influence over state affairs was moved to the prime minister in Christiania, while prime minister in Stockholm became the second highest cabinet position, responsible for conveying the government's views to the King. When the union was dissolved in 1905, the position of prime minister in Stockholm was abolished.

Stewards of Norway

The Steward of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish (riksstattholder in modern Norwegian spelling), meaning Royal steward of the realm (see Steward), was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch during the Dano-Norwegian union. As Norway was a separate kingdom, with its own laws and institutions, the position of Steward of Norway was arguably the most influential position for a Danish-Norwegian nobleman or royal to hold, second to the King.

Split premiership (1814–1905)

First Minister (1814–1873)

Prior to 1884, there were no organised political parties in Norway; the prime ministers were considered senior civil servants (Embedsmenn). They were appointed by the King and were not subject to legislative confirmation. All Prime Ministers before 1884 opposed the constitutional reforms proposed by the parliamentary opposition, and were in their time viewed as conservatives. The Prime Minister was subordinate to the Steward and Viceroy, and the First Minister was subordinate to the Prime Minister. The de facto head of government was the First Minister.

Prime Minister

Term of office

First Minister

Term of office Government
Name
(Birth–Death)
Picture Name
(Birth–Death)
Picture
Peder Anker
(1749–1824)
Peder Anker by Jacob Munch.png 1814 1822 Frederik Gottschalk von Haxthausen

(1750–1825)

Frederik Gottschalk von Haxthausen av Wilhelm Holter, Eidsvoll 1814, EM.00263 (cropped).jpg 1814 1814 Wedel I
Marcus Gjøe Rosenkrantz

(1762–1838)

Christian August Lorentzen - Portrett av Marcus Gjøe Rosenkrantz - Oslo Museum - OB.00015.jpg 1814 1815 Wedel I
Mathias Sommerhielm

(1764–1827)

Sommerhielm1 (cropped).jpg 1815 1822 Wedel I
Mathias Sommerhielm
(1764–1827)
Sommerhielm1 (cropped).jpg 1822 1827 Jonas Collett

(1772–1851)

Portrett av Jonas Collett OB.00522.jpg 1822 1836 Wedel I
Severin Løvenskiold
(1777–1856)
Lovenskiold2.jpg 1828 1841 Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog

(1787–1856)

Jacob Munch - Portrait of Cabinet Minister Nicolay Johan Lohmann Krog - NG.M.01089 - National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design.jpg 1836 1855 Wedel II

Løvenskiold/Vogt

Frederik Gottschalck Haxthausen Due
(1796–1873)
Frederik Due.png 1841 1858 Jørgen Herman Vogt

(1784–1862)

J. H. Vogt.png 1856 1858 Løvenskiold/Vogt

Vogt

Georg Christian Sibbern
(1816–1901)
Portrett av statsminister Georg Sibbern - no-nb digifoto 20160119 00053 blds 01000.jpg 1858 1871 Hans Christian Petersen

(1793–1862)

Hans Christian Petersen.jpg 1858 1861 Sibbern/Birch/Motzfeldt
Otto Richard Kierulf
(1825–1897)
37917 Otto Richard Kierulf.jpg 1871 1873 Frederik Stang

(1808–1884)

Frederik Stang (1808 - 1884).jpg 1861 1873 Frederik Stang

Prime Minister in Christiania (1873–1905)

In 1873 the office of the First Minister of Norway was upgraded to Prime Minister, based in Christiania. The office of Prime Minister based in Stockholm continued, with responsibility for communicating the policies of the Prime Minister in Christiania to the King, making it subordinate to the office in Christiania. In addition, a separate Prime Minister of Sweden was appointed from 1876 onwards.

      Liberal Party of Norway (Venstre)       Conservative Party (Høyre)       Coalition Party (Samlingspartiet)

Prime Minister in Stockholm

Prime Minister in Christiania

Term of office Cabinet
Name
(Birth-Death)
Picture Political party Name
(Birth-Death)
Picture Political party
Otto Richard Kierulf
(1825–1897)
37917 Otto Richard Kierulf.jpg N/A Frederik Stang
(1808–1884)
Frederik Stang (1808 - 1884).jpg N/A 1873 1880 F.Stang
Christian August Selmer
(1816–1889)
Christian Selmer.jpg Conservative Party 1880 1884 Selmer
Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner
(1806–1892)
(acting)
Wolfgang Haffner 2.jpg N/A 1884 1884
Carl Otto Løvenskiold
(1839–1916)
Carl Otto Løvenskiold.png N/A Christian Homann Schweigaard
(1838–1899)
Christian Homann Schweigaard.jpg Conservative Party 1884 1884 Schweigaard
Ole Jørgensen Richter
(1829–1888)
Ole Richter by L Szacinski.png Liberal Party Johan Sverdrup
(1816–1892)
Johan Sverdrup porträtt.jpg Liberal Party 1884 1888 Sverdrup
V
Hans Georg Jacob Stang
(1830–1907)
Jacob Stang.png Liberal Party 1888 1889
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram
(1846–1929)
Gregers Gram porträtt.jpg Conservative Party Emil Stang
(1834–1912)
Emil Stang by Klem.png Conservative Party 1889 1891 Stang I
H
Otto Blehr
(1847–1927)
Otto Albert Blehr 1891.jpg Liberal Party Johannes Steen
(1827–1906)
Johannes Steen.jpg Liberal Party 1891 1893 Steen I
V
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram
(1846–1929)
Gregers Gram porträtt.jpg Conservative Party Emil Stang
(1834–1912)
Emil Stang by Klem.png Conservative Party 1893 1895 Stang II
H
Francis Hagerup
(1853–1921)
Francis Hagerup (OB.SZ02297).jpg Conservative Party 1895 1898 Hagerup I
H–MV–V
Otto Blehr
(1853–1921)
Otto Albert Blehr 1891.jpg Liberal Party Johannes Steen
(1827–1906)
Johannes Steen.jpg Liberal Party 1898 1902 Steen II
V
Ole Anton Qvam
(1834–1904)
Oaqvam.jpg Liberal Party Otto Blehr
(1847–1927)
Otto Albert Blehr 1891.jpg Liberal Party 1902 1903 Blehr I
V
Sigurd Ibsen
(1859–1930)
Sigurd Ibsen OB.F06068a.jpg Liberal Party Francis Hagerup
(1853–1921)
Francis Hagerup (OB.SZ02297).jpg Coalition Party 1903 1905 Hagerup II
H–V
Jørgen Løvland
(1848–1922)
Utenriksminister Lovland.jpg Liberal Party Christian Michelsen
(1857–1925)
Christian Michelsen portrait.jpg Liberal Party 1905 1905 Michelsen
V–H–MV

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–present)

In 1905, the union between Sweden and Norway was dissolved. Since then the office of the Prime Minister of Norway has been in Oslo, except for the years of Nazi-German occupation during World War II when the Norwegian government was in exile in London.

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–1940)

      Liberal Party (Venstre)       Free-minded Liberal Party (Frisinnede Venstre)       Conservative Party (Høyre)       Norwegian Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)       Agrarian Party (Bondepartiet)

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Term of office Party Election Cabinet
coalition
Monarch
(reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Christian Michelsen.jpg Christian Michelsen
(1857–1925)
11 March 1905 23 October 1907 2 years, 226 days Liberal Party 1906 Michelsen
V–H–MV
Haakon VII
Haakon VII FSA.jpg
(1905–1957)
2 J. Løvland - no-nb digifoto 20160420 00234 NB NS NM 10313 (cropped).jpg Jørgen Løvland
(1848–1922)
23 October 1907 19 March 1908 148 days Liberal Party Løvland
V–MV
3 Gunnar Knudsen 02.jpg Gunnar Knudsen
(1848–1928)
19 March 1908 2 February 1910 1 year, 320 days Liberal Party 1909 Knudsen I
V
4 Wollert Konow (SB), Stortinget.jpg Wollert Konow
(1845–1924)
2 February 1910 20 February 1912 2 years, 18 days Free-minded Liberal Party Konow
H–FV
5 Jens Bratlie.jpg Jens Bratlie
(1856–1939)
20 February 1912 31 January 1913 346 days Conservative Party 1912 Bratlie
H–FV
(3) Gunnar Knudsen 02.jpg Gunnar Knudsen
(1848–1928)
31 January 1913 21 June 1920 7 years, 142 days Liberal Party 1915
1918
Knudsen II
V
6 Otto Bahr Halvorsen 1921.jpg Otto Bahr Halvorsen
(1872–1923)
21 June 1920 22 June 1921 1 year, 1 day Conservative Party Bahr Halvorsen I
H–FV
7 Otto Albert Blehr (Sinding-Larsen).jpg Otto Albert Blehr
(1847–1927)
22 June 1921 6 March 1923 1 year, 257 days Liberal Party 1921 Blehr II
V
(6) Otto Bahr Halvorsen 1921.jpg Otto Bahr Halvorsen
(1872–1923)
6 March 1923 23 May 1923 78 days Conservative Party Bahr Halvorsen II
H–FV
8 Abraham Theodor Berge, 1912, L. Szacinski (firmaet), Oslo Museum, OB.SZ22556.jpg Abraham Berge
(1851–1936)
30 May 1923 25 July 1924 1 year, 56 days Free-minded Liberal Party Berge
H–FV
9 Johan Ludwig Mowinckel.jpg Johan Ludwig Mowinckel
(1870–1943)
25 July 1924 5 March 1926 1 year, 223 days Liberal Party 1924 Mowinckel I
V
10 Ivar Lykke.jpg Ivar Lykke
(1872–1949)
5 March 1926 28 January 1928 1 year, 329 days Conservative Party 1927 Lykke
H–FV
11 Hornsrud.jpg Christopher Hornsrud
(1859–1960)
28 January 1928 15 February 1928 18 days Labour Party Hornsrud
Ap
(9) Johan Ludwig Mowinckel.jpg Johan Ludwig Mowinckel
(1870–1943)
15 February 1928 12 May 1931 3 years, 86 days Liberal Party 1930 Mowinckel II
V
12 Peder Kolstad.jpg Peder Kolstad
(1878–1932)
12 May 1931 5 March 1932 298 days Agrarian Party Kolstad
B
13 Jens Hundseid.jpeg Jens Hundseid
(1883–1965)
14 March 1932 3 March 1933 354 days Agrarian Party Hundseid
B
(9) Johan Ludwig Mowinckel.jpg Johan Ludwig Mowinckel
(1870–1943)
3 March 1933 20 March 1935 2 years, 17 days Liberal Party 1933 Mowinckel III
V
14 Johan Nygaardsvold.jpg Johan Nygaardsvold
(1879–1952)
20 March 1935
in exile from 1940
25 June 1945 10 years, 97 days Labour Party 1936 Nygaardsvold
Ap

Heads of Government (1940–1945)

Government sanction by Nazi Germany during the occupation of Norway. The Nygaardsvold exile government (1935–1945) is recognised as the elected government during the occupation.

      National Unity (Nasjonal Samling)       Conservative Party (Høyre)       German Nazi Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei)

Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Term of office Party Cabinet
coalition
Took office Left office Time in office
Portrett av Vidkun Quisling i sivile klær, ukjent datering.jpg Vidkun Quisling
(1887–1945)
9 April 1940
(committed a coup d'état)
15 April 1940 6 days National Unity Quisling I
NS
Ingolf Elster Christensen.jpg Ingolf Elster Christensen
(1872–1943)
as Chairman of the Administrative Council
15 April 1940 25 September 1940 163 days Conservative Party Administrative Council
Terboven statsakten.jpg Josef Terboven
(1898–1945)
as Reichskommissar
25 September 1940 1 February 1942 1 year, 129 days Nazi Party Reichskommissariat
NSDAP
Portrett av Vidkun Quisling i sivile klær, ukjent datering.jpg Vidkun Quisling
(1887–1945)
as Minister President
1 February 1942 9 May 1945 3 years, 97 days National Unity Quisling II
NS

Prime Ministers of Norway (1945–present)

      Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)       Conservative Party (Høyre)       Centre Party (Senterpartiet)       Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Term of office Party Election Cabinet
coalition
Monarch
(reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
15 Einar Gerhardsen 1945.jpeg Einar Gerhardsen
(1897–1987)
25 June 1945 19 November 1951 6 years, 147 days Labour Party Gerhardsen I
Ap–H–Sp–V–NKP
Haakon VII
Haakon VII FSA.jpg
(1905–1957)
1945
1949
Gerhardsen II
Ap
16 26771 Oscar Torp (cropped).jpg Oscar Torp
(1893–1958)
19 November 1951 22 January 1955 3 years, 64 days Labour Party 1953 Torp
Ap
(15) Einar Gerhardsen (131919).jpg Einar Gerhardsen
(1897–1987)
22 January 1955 28 August 1963 8 years, 218 days Labour Party 1957
1961
Gerhardsen III
Ap
Olav V
Olav V of Norway.jpg
(1957–1991)
17 John Lyng by Schrøder (1932).JPG John Lyng
(1905–1978)
28 August 1963 25 September 1963 28 days Conservative Party Lyng
H–Sp–KrF–V
(15) Einar Gerhardsen (131919).jpg Einar Gerhardsen
(1897–1987)
25 September 1963 12 October 1965 2 years, 17 days Labour Party Gerhardsen IV
Ap
18 Per Borten (1964, Knudsens fotosenter).jpg Per Borten
(1913–2005)
12 October 1965 17 March 1971 5 years, 156 days Centre Party 1965
1969
Borten
Sp–H–KrF–V
19 Trygve Bratteli
(1910–1984)
17 March 1971 18 October 1972 1 year, 215 days Labour Party Bratteli I
Ap
20 Lars Korvald (4Fo30141709010050).jpg Lars Korvald
(1916–2006)
18 October 1972 16 October 1973 363 days Christian Democratic Party Korvald
KrF–Sp–V
(19) Trygve Bratteli
(1910–1984)
16 October 1973 15 January 1976 2 years, 91 days Labour Party 1973 Bratteli II
Ap
21 Odvar Nordli 1976.jpg Odvar Nordli
(1927–2018)
15 January 1976 4 February 1981 5 years, 20 days Labour Party 1977 Nordli
Ap
22 Gro Harlem Brundtland ca.1974–1979.jpg Gro Harlem Brundtland
(born 1939)
4 February 1981 14 October 1981 252 days Labour Party Brundtland I
Ap
23 Willoch 1983 (high resolution, cropped).jpg Kåre Willoch
(1928–2021)
14 October 1981 9 May 1986 4 years, 207 days Conservative Party 1981 Willoch I
H
1985 Willoch II
H–KrF–Sp
(22) Brundtland.jpg Gro Harlem Brundtland
(born 1939)
9 May 1986 16 October 1989 3 years, 160 days Labour Party Brundtland II
Ap
24 Jan P. Syse.JPG Jan Peder Syse
(1930–1997)
16 October 1989 3 November 1990 1 year, 18 days Conservative Party 1989 Syse
H–KrF–Sp
(22) Gro Harlem Brundtland 2009.jpg Gro Harlem Brundtland
(born 1939)
3 November 1990 25 October 1996 5 years, 357 days Labour Party 1993 Brundtland III
Ap
Harald V
President Medvedev with King Harald V of Norway big225593 (crop).jpg
(1991–present)
25 Norges Stortingspresident Thorbjorn Jagland vid Nordiska Radets session i Oslo. 2007-10-30. Foto- Magnus Froderberg-norden.org.jpg Thorbjørn Jagland
(born 1950)
25 October 1996 17 October 1997 357 days Labour Party Jagland
Ap
26 Norges statsminister, Kjell Magne Bondevik.jpg Kjell Magne Bondevik
(born 1947)
17 October 1997 17 March 2000 2 years, 152 days Christian Democratic Party 1997 Bondevik I
KrF–Sp–V
27 Jens Stoltenberg, statsminister Norge.jpg Jens Stoltenberg
(born 1959)
17 March 2000 19 October 2001 1 year, 216 days Labour Party Stoltenberg I
Ap
(26) Norges statsminister, Kjell Magne Bondevik.jpg Kjell Magne Bondevik
(born 1947)
19 October 2001 17 October 2005 3 years, 363 days Christian Democratic Party 2001 Bondevik II
KrF–H–V
(27) Jens Stoltenberg, statsminister Norge.jpg Jens Stoltenberg
(born 1959)
17 October 2005 16 October 2013 7 years, 364 days Labour Party 2005
2009
Stoltenberg II
ApSV–Sp
28 31.08.2013, Erna Solberg.2.jpg Erna Solberg
(born 1961)
16 October 2013 14 October 2021 7 years, 363 days Conservative Party 2013 Solberg I
H–FrP
2017 Solberg II
H–FrP–V
Solberg III
H–FrP–V-KrF
Solberg IV
H–V–KrF
29 Jonas Gahr Støre undated.jpg Jonas Gahr Støre
(born 1960)
14 October 2021 Incumbent 2 years, 287 days Labour Party 2021 Støre
ApSp

See also

  • List of Norwegian monarchs
  • List of Norwegian governments
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