 |
|---|
| Constitution |
 Norway portal |
InNorway, astate secretary (Norwegian:statssekretær) is apartisan political position within theexecutive branch of government. Contrary to the positionsecretary of state in many other countries, a Norwegian state secretary does not head theministry, rather, they are second in rank to aminister. Resembling ade facto vice minister, the state secretary, however, cannot attend aCouncil of State, and does not act as a temporary minister in case of illness or other leave of absence.
The modern state secretary institution was established in 1947, following a 78-41 vote in theNorwegian Parliament. TheLabour andCommunist parties voted for, whereas theAgrarian (Centre),Christian Democratic,Liberal, andConservative parties voted against. The cabinet at that time was a single-party Labourcabinet led byEinar Gerhardsen, and one state secretary was appointed seven of the ministries. State secretaries in theOffice of the Prime Minister followed in 1956,[1] having originally been known as Secretaries to the Prime Minister.[2] When thecabinet Lyng (Conservative, Christian Democratic, Centre, Liberal) assumed office in August 1963, they appointed state secretaries in nearly all ministries, and when thecabinet Korvald (Christian Democratic, Centre, Liberal) assumed office, it became the first cabinet to employ two state secretaries in one ministry.[1]
In 1968 the Conservative representativePaul Thyness, himself a former state secretary, had proposed a parliamentary resolution which requested the sittingcabinet to "take the function and status of State Secretary position into closer consideration." A public reporting committee convened in 1970; in 1971 Thyness became a member of this committee. In 1972, Thyness and fellow committee memberGuttorm Hansen proposed four changes to theNorwegian Constitution in order to cement the state secretary position in Norwegian law. ANorwegian Official Report was also produced; in 1974 (NOU 1974: 18). In 1976 the constitutional change was passed, following a 146-9 parliamentary vote. The only party which opposed the change was theAnders Lange Party; its four representatives voted together with individuals from other parties. One proposal was scrapped, though; the idea that state secretaries should meet in parliamentary sessions, allowing for closer scrutiny of theexecutive branch of government by thelegislative branch.[1]
Originally, the position was typically given to external technical experts or young politicians with little or no prior experience as elected politicians. In 1980, a landmark was made asHelen Bøsterud became the first state secretary with prior experience in parliament. However, this is still not the rule.[1] On the other hand, becoming a member of parliament or even minister after serving as a state secretary is common.Jan P. Syse (State Secretary 1970–1971) andKjell Magne Bondevik (State Secretary 1972–1973) would serve asprime ministers,[3][4] andThorvald Stoltenberg (State Secretary 1971–1972 and 1973–1979) andJonas Gahr Støre (State Secretary 2000–2001) would serve asministers of foreign affairs.[5][6]
The titlestate secretary was first used in 1814. While Norway was still a part of Denmark, in March 1814,Crown Prince Christian Frederick created a Government Council (Regjeringsråd), with a regularsecretary who was titled Secretary to the Government (Regjeringssekretær). According to the Norwegian Constitution of May 1814, the name of the Government Council was changed to Council of State, the secretary position being renamed to the state secretary at the same time. The name remained until 1925, when it was changed to Secretary to the Council of State (Statsrådsekretær). Following restructuring in 1969 and 1987, the position were transformed into a civil servant position in theOffice of the Prime Minister, and is today known as Secretary to the Government (Regjeringsråd).[7]
This is a list of the state secretaries inStøre's Cabinet.[8] Unless otherwise noted, the term started on 14 October 2021.
| Minister | State secretaries | Period | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Prime Minister | Kristine Joy Nordenson Kallset | Labour | |
| Astrid Scharning Huitfeldt | Labour | ||
| Wegard Håkon Harsvik | Labour | ||
| Thomas Boe Hornburg | Labour | ||
| Tale Benedikte Jordbakke | Labour | ||
| Siri Storstein Hytten | Labour | ||
| Anne Marie Aanerud | Centre | ||
| Andreas Bjelland Eriksen | Labour | ||
| Minister of Finance | Lars Erik Bartnes | Centre | |
| Erling Emil Laugsand | Centre | ||
| Lars Vangen | Centre | ||
| Erlend Trygve Grimstad | Centre | ||
| Lotte Grepp Knutsen | Labour | ||
| Minister of Labour and Inclusion | Maria Schumacher Walberg | Labour | |
| Truls Aronsen Wickholm | Labour | ||
| Nancy Herz | Labour | ||
| Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy | Vidar Ulriksen | Labour | |
| Minister of Development | Bjørg Sandkjær | Centre | |
| Foreign Minister | Finn Henrik Thune | Labour | |
| Eivind Vad Petersson | Labour | ||
| Minister of Climate and Environment | Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad | Labour | |
| Minister of Children and Families | Trine Fagervik | Centre | |
| Minister of Munincipalities and Districts | Ole Gustav Narud | Centre | |
| Kjersti Bjørnstad | Centre | ||
| Nancy Charlotte Porsanger Anti | Centre | ||
| Minister of Transport | Mette Gundersen | Labour | |
| Minister of Oil and Energy | Amund Vik | Labour | |
| Minister of Health and Care Services | Karl Kristian Bekeng | Labour | |
| Minister of Culture and Equality | Gry Haugsbakken | Labour | |
| Minister of Trade and Industry | Halvard Ingebrigtsen | Labour | |
| Janicke Andreassen | Labour | ||
| Minister of Education | Kristina Torbergsen | Labour | |
| Halvard Hølleland | Labour | ||
| Minister of Agriculture and Food | Wenche Karen Westberg | Centre | |
| Minister of Justice and Public Security | Astrid Bergmål | Labour |
