New state secretaries

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In today’s Council of State, The King has appointed Mr. Christian Anton Smedshaug as acting state secretary to Minister of Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide, in the period that state secretary Aleksander Øren Heen settles parental leave, effective as of 3 January 2022.

Ms. Sigrid Hagerup Melhuus is appointed as acting state secretary to Minister of Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide, in the period that state secretary Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad settles parental leave, effective as of 10 January 2022.

Mr. Jakob Bjelland is appointed as state secretary to Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård, effective as of 3 January 2022.


The government represents the Labour Party (Lab.) and Centre Party (Cent.) The state secretaries are:

To Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Lab.)
Ms. Kristine Joy Nordenson Kallset (Lab.)
Ms. Astrid Scharning Huitfeldt (Lab.)
Mr. Wegard Håkon Harsvik (Lab.)
Mr. Thomas Boe Hornburg (Lab.)
Ms. Tale Benedikte Jordbakke (Lab.)
Ms. Siri Storstein Hytten (Lab.)
Ms. Anne Marie Aanerud (Cent.)
Mr. Andreas Bjelland Eriksen (Ap)

To Minister of Finance Trygve Magnus Slagsvold Vedum (Cent.)
Mr. Erlend Trygve Grimstad (Cent.)
Ms. Lotte Grepp Knutsen (Ap)
Mr. Lars Erik Bartnes (Cent.)
Mr. Lars Vangen (Cent.)
Mr. Erling Emil Laugsand (Cent.)

To Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Hadia Tajik (Lab.)
Ms. Maria Schumacher Walberg (Lab.)
Mr. Truls Aronsen Wickholm (Lab.)
Ms. Nancy Herz (Lab.)

To Minister of Research and Higher Education Ola Borten Moe (Cent.)
Mr. Oddmund Løkensgard Hoel (Cent.)

To Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran (Lab.)
Ms. Kristina Sigursdottir Hansen (Lab.)
Mr. Vidar Ulriksen (Lab.)

To Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim (Cent.)
Ms. Bjørg Sandkjær (Cent.)

To Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt (Lab.)Mr. Eivind Vad Petersson (Lab.)
Mr. Henrik Thune (Lab.)

To Minister of Defence Odd Roger Enoksen (Cent.)
Mr. Bent-Joacim Bentzen (Cent.)

To Minister of Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide (Lab.)
Ms. Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad (Lab.) – Leave of absence 21.01.22-31.08.22
Mr. Aleksander Øren Heen (Cent.) – Leave of absence 03.01.22-15.04.22
Mr. Christian Anton Smedshaug (Cent.) – Acting 03.01.22-15.04.22
Ms. Sigrid Hagerup Melhuus (Lab.) – Acting 10.01.22-31.08.22

To Minister of Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Cent.)
Ms. Trine Fagervik (Cent.)

To Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Bjørn Arild Gram (Cent.)
Mr. Ole Gustav Narud (Cent.)
Ms. Gunn Karin Gjul (Lab.)
Ms. Nancy Charlotte Porsanger Anti (Cent.)
Ms. Kjersti Bjørnstad (Cent.)

To Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård (Lab.)
Ms. Mette Gundersen (Lab.)
Mr. Johan Vasara (Lab.)
Mr. Jakob Bjelland (Cent.) – From 03.01.22

To Minister of Petroleum and Energy Marte Mjøs Persen (Lab.)
Mr. Amund Vik (Lab.)

To Minister of Health and Care services Ingvild Kjerkol (Lab.)
Mr. Karl Kristian Bekeng (Lab.)
Mr. Ole Henrik Krat Bjørkholt (Lab.)
Ms. Ellen Moen Rønning-Arnesen (Lab.)

To Minister of Culture and Equality Anette Trettebergstuen (Lab.)
Ms. Gry Haugsbakken (Lab.)
Mr. Odin Adelsten Aunan Bohmann (Lab.)

To Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre (Lab.)
Mr. Halvard Ingebrigtsen (Lab.)
Ms. Janicke Andreassen (Lab.)

To Minister of Education Tonje Brenna (Lab.)
Mr. Halvard Hølleland (Lab.)
Ms. Kristina Torbergsen (Lab.)

To Minister of Agriculture and Food Sandra Borch (Cent.)
Ms. Wenche Karen Westberg (Cent.)

To Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl (Cent.)
Mr. Hans-Petter Aasen (Cent.)
Mr. John-Erik Vika (Cent.)
Mr. Erik Sandsmark Idsøe (Cent.)
Ms. Astrid Bergmål (Lab.)