Press Release

October 23 1996

Change of Prime Minister in Norway.

Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland announced today, that as of Friday, October 25th, she would be succeeded as Head of the Norwegian Labour Government by the incumbent Leader of the Norwegian Labour Party, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland.

Mrs Brundtland said today that she had made the decision - "that the time for change had come to make it clear, in due time, and well ahead of the party's Convention in November 1996, and parliamentary elections in September of 1997, who would be at the helm of a Norwegian Labour Government beyond this election and possibly into the next century".

Four years ago, Mrs. Brundtland surprised a Labour Party Convention by announcing her withdrawal from the position of Party Leader, while she would continue as Prime Minister. At that time, Mrs. Brundtland wanted to reduce somewhat the amount of work which comes with holding both positions. The Convention elected Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland new party leader. He also became leader of the Labour party's parliamentary group after the general elections in 1993

Gro Harlem Brundtland (57) has been Prime Minister from February to October 1981, and 1986 - 1989 and again from 1990 to the present.

-"Usually, in the case of the Labour Party, the posts of Prime Minister and Party Leader have been held by one and the same person", Prime Minister Brundtland said.

She has held the Party Leader's positions for a period of nearly 12 years, and during that period she was also either Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition.

• "there are no other reasons, neither personal, nor political, why I have decided that the time for a change is now". Mrs Brundtland said.
• "I have the intention to remain an active, working person also in the future, and I believe it is a privilege to leave as Head of Government, for the reasons I have given and in the present situation", she said.

The relationship between Mrs Brundtland and Mr. Jagland, and the division of responsibilities between the two has worked excellently for four years. The Prime Minister has lead the government through important policy changes both domestically and in Norway's relations with Europe and the whole international community. The Party Leader has been charged with the parliamentary challenges facing a party without a majority of its own in the Parliament, and at the same time with leading a process preparing the Labour Party's Convention 6 - 10 November 1996.

Mrs Brundtland entered political life in 1974 when she was appointed Minister of Environment, a post she held until 1979. She was elected Member of Parliament for the first time in 1977. She was chairman of the World Commission on Environment and Development 1984 - 1987. She is First Vice-President of the Socialist International.

Mrs. Brundtland is a medical doctor, and holds a Master's Degree in Public Health from Harvard University