Arvid Helmer Johanson
Encyclopedia
Arvid Helmer Johanson was a Norwegian
newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party
. He served five full terms in the Parliament of Norway, was Norway's second Minister of Petroleum and Energy
, and outside of politics he spent most of his career in the newspaper Halden Arbeiderblad
.
as a son of Arvid Martin Johanson (1896–1981) and housewife Karla Niemi (1899–1932). He started his career as a journalist in Halden Arbeiderblad
in 1947, and remained there for a year. In 1949 he worked in Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad
. He returned to Halden Arbeiderblad, and remained there for the rest of his career. He underwent studies at the Norwegian Journalist Academy from 1942 to 1953 and at Fircroft College
from 1954 to 1955. He was a board member of the county chapter of the Norwegian Press Association
from 1954 to 1955.
He served as a member of the Parliament of Norway from Østfold
during the terms 1958–1961, 1965–1969, 1969–1973, 1973–1977 and 1977–1981, and as a deputy member during the terms 1954–1957 and 1961–1965. From 1964 to 1965 he served as a regular representative, following the death of Henry Jacobsen
. Towards the end of his fifth full term in Parliament, Johanson was appointed as Minister of Petroleum and Energy
. He was the second to hold this position, replacing Bjartmar Gjerde
. Gjerde had asked Prime Minister
Odvar Nordli
that his resignation be allowed because of high pressure in the job, with incidents like the Alta controversy
and the Alexander Kielland rig disaster. Johanson lost his position when the centre-right Willoch's First Cabinet took over 1981. While Johanson was a government minister, his seat in Parliament was taken by Jan Eilert Bjørnstad.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. He served five full terms in the Parliament of Norway, was Norway's second Minister of Petroleum and Energy
Minister of Petroleum and Energy (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.- Councillor of State and Chief of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy 1978 – 1992 :...
, and outside of politics he spent most of his career in the newspaper Halden Arbeiderblad
Halden Arbeiderblad
Halden Arbeiderblad is a local newspaper in Halden, Norway.It was established in 1929 as a Labour Party newspaper, but has later become non-partisan...
.
Early life and career
He was born in HaldenHalden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
as a son of Arvid Martin Johanson (1896–1981) and housewife Karla Niemi (1899–1932). He started his career as a journalist in Halden Arbeiderblad
Halden Arbeiderblad
Halden Arbeiderblad is a local newspaper in Halden, Norway.It was established in 1929 as a Labour Party newspaper, but has later become non-partisan...
in 1947, and remained there for a year. In 1949 he worked in Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad
Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad
Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad is a local newspaper in Sarpsborg, Norway. It is published six days a week. The chief editor is Eirik Moe.It was established in 1929, after the demise of Østfold Arbeiderblad, and was affiliated with the Labour Party. However, the newspaper ultimately became non-partisan...
. He returned to Halden Arbeiderblad, and remained there for the rest of his career. He underwent studies at the Norwegian Journalist Academy from 1942 to 1953 and at Fircroft College
Fircroft College
Fircroft College is a specialist adult residential college based in Selly Oak, Birmingham.The college was originally founded by George Cadbury in 1909 and offers mostly short residential courses, as well as an Access to Higher Education programme and specialist courses for the over 55s...
from 1954 to 1955. He was a board member of the county chapter of the Norwegian Press Association
Norwegian Press Association
The Norwegian Press Association is Norwegian association established in 1910, for press people with journalism as their main profession. Among its members are the Norwegian Union of Journalists, the Association of Norwegian Editors, Norsk Lokalradioforbund and the Norwegian Media Businesses'...
from 1954 to 1955.
National politics
Johanson became involved in politics as leader of the local workers' youth organization in 1949. He was elected as a member of Halden municipal council from 1959 to 1963. He chaired the Labour Party branch in Halden from 1956 to 1958 and 1962 to 1963, and the county chapter in Østfold from 1962 to 1974. From 1969 to 1974 he was a member of the central committee of the Labour Party.He served as a member of the Parliament of Norway from Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
during the terms 1958–1961, 1965–1969, 1969–1973, 1973–1977 and 1977–1981, and as a deputy member during the terms 1954–1957 and 1961–1965. From 1964 to 1965 he served as a regular representative, following the death of Henry Jacobsen
Henry Jacobsen
Henry Jacobsen was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Rygge.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from the Market towns of Østfold and Akershus in 1945, and was re-elected on four occasions. He had previously served in the position of deputy representative during the...
. Towards the end of his fifth full term in Parliament, Johanson was appointed as Minister of Petroleum and Energy
Minister of Petroleum and Energy (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.- Councillor of State and Chief of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy 1978 – 1992 :...
. He was the second to hold this position, replacing Bjartmar Gjerde
Bjartmar Gjerde
Bjartmar Alv Gjerde was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He held several posts as a government minister between 1971 and 1980, and was Norway's first Minister of Petroleum and Energy...
. Gjerde had asked Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
Odvar Nordli
Odvar Nordli
is a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1976 to 1981.Nordli grew up in Tangen in Stange, Hedmark. After World War II he served in the Independent Norwegian Brigade Group in Germany, part of the Allied forces occupying post-war Germany...
that his resignation be allowed because of high pressure in the job, with incidents like the Alta controversy
Alta controversy
The Alta controversy refers to a political controversy in Norway in the late 1970s and early 1980s concerning the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in the Alta river in Finnmark, Northern Norway.-Key events:...
and the Alexander Kielland rig disaster. Johanson lost his position when the centre-right Willoch's First Cabinet took over 1981. While Johanson was a government minister, his seat in Parliament was taken by Jan Eilert Bjørnstad.