Cabinet reshuffled
Conservative (H) Prime Minister Erna Solberg shakes up cabinet for the first time since the 2013 General Election
Photo: Torbjørn Tandberg /
Landbruks- og matdepartmentet / Flickr
Sylvi Listhaug, new Minister of Immigration.
Michael Sandelson
The Foreigner
The post-swapping, approved by HM King Harald V of Norway according to procedure, is as follows:
Fisheries Minister and newly-appointed Norwegian member of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Elisabeth Aspaker, takes over for Conservative Party colleague Vidar Helgesen as Norway’s Minister of EU and EEA Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Tine Sundtoft, the Conservatives’ former Minister of Climate and Environment, who has been honorably discharged from her office, is replaced by Minister Helgesen.
The new post of Minister of Immigration and Integration has been created for Sylvi Listhaug, Norway’s former Minister of Agriculture and Food.
She assumes responsibility for immigration-related matters at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security for the Progress Party (FrP). Minister Listhaug is also now in charge of integration affairs at the Ministry of Children, Equality, and Social Inclusion.
Progress’s deputy leader, Per Sandberg MP, is now the Minister of Fisheries.
Norwegian media initially announced on December 15 that he would be the new Immigration and Integration Minister. Reports were subsequently updated.
Anniken Hauglie, who was city councilor of the Conservatives in Oslo between 2010 and 2013, is the new Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. Former Labor and Social Affairs Minister Robert Eriksson (Progress) has been honorably discharged from his office.
In other changes, the Conservatives’ Linda Cathrine Hofstad Helleland MP is now Minister of Culture.
Jon Georg Dale (Progress) has been appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Food. His previous posts include that of Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications (2013-14) and Deputy Minister of Finance (2014-).
Museum-telephoning Thorhild Widvey, former Minister of Culture for the Conservative Party, has been honorably discharged from her office.
The post of Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office is no longer filled by a Minister. It is assumed by Conservative politician Julie Brodtkorb.
The changes took effect from 13:00 local time on December 16.
This article was originally published on The Foreigner. To subscribe to The Foreigner, visit theforeigner.no.
It also appeared in the Dec. 25, 2015, issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
