Helge Seip
Encyclopedia
Helge Seip was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party and later the Liberal People's Party.
He was born in Surnadal
. At a young age he became involved in the Young Liberals, the youth wing of the Liberal Party. In the local chapter of Oslo
he was a member of the board from 1937 to 1939, and deputy chairman from 1939 to 1945. From 1945 to 1947 he was a board member of their national organization. In 1948 he became a deputy member of the Liberal Party national board, advancing to regular board member in 1952. He continued in this position, becoming national party leader in 1970.
He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Oslo
in 1953
, and was re-elected on four occasions. In 1965 he was appointed Minister of Local Government
in the centre-right Borten's Cabinet. He left in 1970, and was replaced by Helge Rognlien
.
During his fifth term as parliament member, in December 1972, Seip joined the Liberal People's Party which split from the Liberal Party over disagreements of Norway's proposed entry to the European Economic Community
. He was again succeeded by Helge Rognlien, this time as party leader of the Liberal Party. Instead, Seip became the first leader of the Liberal People's Party. However, Seip was not re-elected to parliament in 1973, thus disappearing from national politics.
On the local level Seip was a member of Oslo
city council from 1945 to 1947, and later of Bærum
municipal council from 1951 to 1967, serving as deputy mayor from 1951 to 1955, and later another tenure from 1979 to 1991.
Outside of politics, Seip graduated from the University of Oslo
as cand.oecon.
in 1941 and cand.jur. in 1942. Among his jobs before becoming a cabinet member were consultant in the Ministry of Finance
from 1946 to 1948, lecturer at the University of Oslo from 1947 to 1955, assistant secretary in the Ministry of Trade from 1948 to 1952, the same position at Statistics Norway
from 1952 to 1954 and political chief editor in the newspaper Dagbladet
from 1954 to 1965. In 1951 the idea of appointing Seip as a State Secretary
in the Ministry of Finance was discussed, but it did not happen.
He was secretary general of the Nordic Council
from 1973 to 1977, and editor-in-chief of Norges Handels- og Sjøfartstidende (renamed Dagens Næringsliv
in 1987) from 1977 to 1980. In 1980 he was appointed director of the newly created Norwegian Data Inspectorate
. He left in 1989 to become Data Protection Commisoner for the Council of Europe
, a position he held until his retirement in 1995.
His brother Martin Fredrik Seip
was a noted physician and professor of medicine.
He was born in Surnadal
Surnadal
is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Nordmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Skei. Other villages include Todalsøra, Surnadalsøra, Sylte, Glærem, Stangvik, and Åsskard....
. At a young age he became involved in the Young Liberals, the youth wing of the Liberal Party. In the local chapter of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
he was a member of the board from 1937 to 1939, and deputy chairman from 1939 to 1945. From 1945 to 1947 he was a board member of their national organization. In 1948 he became a deputy member of the Liberal Party national board, advancing to regular board member in 1952. He continued in this position, becoming national party leader in 1970.
He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1953
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1953
-Results:...
, and was re-elected on four occasions. In 1965 he was appointed Minister of Local Government
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development (Norway)
The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development is a Norwegian minister that is head of the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development...
in the centre-right Borten's Cabinet. He left in 1970, and was replaced by Helge Rognlien
Helge Rognlien
Helge Rognlien was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party.He was born in Oslo. At the outbreak of World War II, Rognlien was a student at the University of Oslo...
.
During his fifth term as parliament member, in December 1972, Seip joined the Liberal People's Party which split from the Liberal Party over disagreements of Norway's proposed entry to the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
. He was again succeeded by Helge Rognlien, this time as party leader of the Liberal Party. Instead, Seip became the first leader of the Liberal People's Party. However, Seip was not re-elected to parliament in 1973, thus disappearing from national politics.
On the local level Seip was a member of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
city council from 1945 to 1947, and later of Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
municipal council from 1951 to 1967, serving as deputy mayor from 1951 to 1955, and later another tenure from 1979 to 1991.
Outside of politics, Seip graduated from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
as cand.oecon.
Cand.oecon.
Candidatus oeconomices or Candidata oeconomices , often abbreviated cand.oecon. is an academic degree in economics at Danish and Norwegian universities. It is roughly equivalent to a Master of Economics, but it consists of 4+2 years, and was based on a four year cand.mag.. The degree was replaced...
in 1941 and cand.jur. in 1942. Among his jobs before becoming a cabinet member were consultant in the Ministry of Finance
Norwegian Ministry of Finance
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance is a Norwegian ministry established in 1814. The ministry is responsible for state finance, including the state budget, taxation and economic policy in Norway. It is led by Sigbjørn Johnsen...
from 1946 to 1948, lecturer at the University of Oslo from 1947 to 1955, assistant secretary in the Ministry of Trade from 1948 to 1952, the same position at Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
from 1952 to 1954 and political chief editor in the newspaper Dagbladet
Dagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
from 1954 to 1965. In 1951 the idea of appointing Seip as a State Secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
in the Ministry of Finance was discussed, but it did not happen.
He was secretary general of the Nordic Council
Nordic Council
The Nordic Council is a geo-political, inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. It was established following World War II and its first concrete result was the introduction in 1952 of a common labour market and free movement across borders without passports for the...
from 1973 to 1977, and editor-in-chief of Norges Handels- og Sjøfartstidende (renamed Dagens Næringsliv
Dagens Næringsliv
Dagens Næringsliv, commonly known as DN, is a Norwegian tabloid specializing in business reporting with a claimed daily circulation of 82,775 copies in 2008, making it the 8th largest newspaper in Norway. The editor in chief is Amund Djuve. Its name is Norwegian for "Today's Business".Originally...
in 1987) from 1977 to 1980. In 1980 he was appointed director of the newly created Norwegian Data Inspectorate
Norwegian Data Inspectorate
The Norwegian Data Inspectorate is Norwegian Government agency responsible for managing the Personal Data Act of 2000, concerning privacy concerns...
. He left in 1989 to become Data Protection Commisoner for the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, a position he held until his retirement in 1995.
His brother Martin Fredrik Seip
Martin Fredrik Seip
Martin Fredrik Seip was a Norwegian physician.He was the brother of politician Helge Seip. He took the dr.med. degree in 1953. He was appointed chief pediatrician at Rikshospitalet in 1968, and became a professor of medicine the same year. He chaired the Norwegian Medical Association from 1966 to...
was a noted physician and professor of medicine.