Press Release

Government changes

The Minister of Justice and the Police, Ms. Aud Inger Aure, who has been on sick leave since 21 January, has today been declared fit by her doctor. In line with her doctor’s advice, however, Ms. Aure has today applied to resign from the Government.

On this background, the following changes in the Government have been decided in an extraordinary session of the Council of State, at the Royal Palace at 11.00 today:

Ms. Aud Inger Aure has from 14.00 today been honourably discharged from her office as Minister of Justice and the Police. From the same time, Mr. Odd Einar Dørum - until now Minister of Transport and Communications, takes over as Minister of Justice and the Police, while Mr. Dag Jostein Fjærvoll – until now Minister of Defence, takes over as Minister of Transport and Communications, and Ms. Eldbjørg Løwer – until now Minister of Labour and Government Administration, takes over as Minister of Defence. Effective as of 14.00 today, Ms. Laila Dåvøy, nurse, has been appointed Minister of Labour and Government Administration.

Effective as of Tuesday 16 March at 11.00, Ms. Ragnhild Queseth Haarstad has been honourably discharged from her office as Minister of Local Government and Regional Development. From the same time Mr. Odd Roger Enoksen, Member of the Storting, takes over as Minister of Local Government and Regional Development. The reason for this change is Mr. Enoksen’s election this weekend as new leader of the Centre Party, one of the coalition parties represented in the Government.

Effective as of 26 March at 12.00, Ms. Marit Arnstad - Minister of Oil and Energy, has been granted leave of absence. From the same time, Ms. Anne Enger Lahnstein - Minister of Culture, will be head also of the Ministry of Oil and Energy for the period Ms. Arnstad is on leave.

Mr. Peter Angelsen, Minister of Fisheries, has been appointed Norway’s representative to the Nordic Council of Ministers, responsible for of matters of Nordic cooperation.

Following today’s changes, the Government list is as follows (Chr. – the Christian Democratic Party , Cent. - the Centre Party, Lib. - the Liberal Party):

Prime Minister:
Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik (Chr.)

Minister of Culture, and deputy for the Prime Minister
– from 26 March 1999 also head of the Ministry of Oil and Energy, in Ms. Marit Arnstad’s leave of absence :
Ms. Anne Enger Lahnstein (Cent.)

Minister of Children and Family Affairs:
Ms. Valgerd Svarstad Haugland (Chr.)

Minister of Trade and Industry:
Mr. Lars Sponheim (Lib.)

Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Knut Vollebæk (Chr.)

Minister of Fisheries:
Mr. Peter Angelsen (Cent.)

Minister of Finance:
Mr. Gudmund Restad (Cent.)

Minister of Agriculture:
Mr. Kåre Gjønnes (Chr.)

Minister of Defence:
Ms. Eldbjørg Løwer (Lib.)

Minister of Justice and the Police:
Mr. Odd Einar Dørum (Lib.)

Minister of Education, Research and Church Affairs:
Mr. Jon Lilletun (Chr.)

Minister of Transport and Communications:
Mr. Dag Jostein Fjærvoll (Chr.)

Minister of Social Affairs:
Ms. Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa (Cent.)

Minister of Health:
Mr. Dagfinn Høybråten (Chr.)

Minister of Oil and Energy
- leave of absence from 26 March 1999:
Ms. Marit Arnstad (Cent.)

Minister of International Development and Human Rights, foreign minister’s deputy:
Ms. Hilde Frafjord Johnson (Chr.)

Minister of the Environment:
Ms. Guro Fjellanger (Lib.)

Minister of Labour and Government Administration
Ms. Laila Dåvøy /Chr.)

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development :
Mr. Odd Roger Enoksen (Cent.)

Minister for Nordic Cooperation:
Mr. Peter Angelsen (Cent.)