Jan P. Syse
Encyclopedia
was a lawyer and Norwegian
politician from the Conservative Party
. He was Prime Minister of Norway
from 1989 to 1990. He also served as Minister of Industry from 1983 to 1985. He served in the Norwegian parliament for over 25 years until his sudden death from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1997.
in the county of Vestfold
. His father, Peter Syse, was a local politician and dental surgeon. He earned his examen artium
in 1949 and his degree in law in 1957. He was politically active as a student, serving as chair of Den Konservative Studenterforening, Det Norske Studentersamfund
, and the construction committee for Chateau Neuf
.
His initial professional experience was as an attorney and manager for the deep sea shipping company Wilh. Wilhelmsen. He worked for Wilhelmsen at various times throughout his career, and was also employed as the editor for Wilhelmsen's newsletter, Skib-rederi.
Jan P. Syse met Else Walstad while they both were students at the University of Oslo
in 1955, and they were married in 1959. They have two sons, philosopher Henrik Syse and Christian Syse, a diplomat.
city council, where he served two terms.
He was elected into the Storting as a deputy representative in 1965. He started his term as a full voting member in 1969 to replace Kåre Willoch
who was a member of the cabinet Borten
. Syse served on the Judiciary, Administration, Finance, extended Foreign Affairs and Constitution, and Constitutional committees throughout his parliamentary career. He was also sent as a parliamentary delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
, Nordic Council
, Inter-Parliamentary Union, and other international bodies.
Syse was State Secretary to the Ministry of Justice
from 1 November 1970 to 17 March 1971 in the non-Socialist coalition government led by Per Borten
. He was Minister of Industry in the second cabinet Willoch
from 16 September 1983 to 4 October 1985, and prime minister
with the Syse Cabinet
from 16 October 1989 to 3 November 1990.
Syse was President of the Lagting 1993–1997.
within the Nordic Council. Known for his rhetorical skills, his son has published a book that describes his speeches and style.
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...
politician from the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
. He was Prime Minister of Norway
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...
from 1989 to 1990. He also served as Minister of Industry from 1983 to 1985. He served in the Norwegian parliament for over 25 years until his sudden death from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1997.
Early life and career
Syse was born in NøtterøyNøtterøy
Nøtterøy is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Borgheim.The parish of Nøtterø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
in the county of Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
. His father, Peter Syse, was a local politician and dental surgeon. He earned his examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1949 and his degree in law in 1957. He was politically active as a student, serving as chair of Den Konservative Studenterforening, Det Norske Studentersamfund
Det Norske Studentersamfund
The Norwegian Students' Society is Norway's oldest student society. Established in 1813 in Oslo, it has been the centre of debate, culture and politics for nearly 200 years....
, and the construction committee for Chateau Neuf
Chateau Neuf
For other uses, see Châteauneuf.Chateau Neuf is a building in Oslo that houses Det Norske Studentersamfund, , including cafes, bars, performance centers, and other facilities for student assembly...
.
His initial professional experience was as an attorney and manager for the deep sea shipping company Wilh. Wilhelmsen. He worked for Wilhelmsen at various times throughout his career, and was also employed as the editor for Wilhelmsen's newsletter, Skib-rederi.
Jan P. Syse met Else Walstad while they both were students at 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...
in 1955, and they were married in 1959. They have two sons, philosopher Henrik Syse and Christian Syse, a diplomat.
Political career
After being a member of the national council for the Conservative Party since 1957, he started his elected political career in 1963 when he was elected to the OsloOslo
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, where he served two terms.
He was elected into the Storting as a deputy representative in 1965. He started his term as a full voting member in 1969 to replace Kåre Willoch
Kåre Willoch
Kåre Isaachsen Willoch is a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He served as Minister of Trade and Shipping in 1963 and 1965–1970, and as Prime Minister of Norway from 1981 to 1986...
who was a member of the cabinet Borten
Cabinet Borten
Borten's Cabinet governed Norway between 12 October 1965 and 17 March 1971. The cabinet wes led by Per Borten and consisted of the Conservative Party, the Centre Party, the Liberal Party and the Christian Democratic Party. It had the following composition:...
. Syse served on the Judiciary, Administration, Finance, extended Foreign Affairs and Constitution, and Constitutional committees throughout his parliamentary career. He was also sent as a parliamentary delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, 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...
, Inter-Parliamentary Union, and other international bodies.
Syse was State Secretary to the Ministry of Justice
Minister of Justice and the Police (Norway)
In Norway, the Minister of Justice and the Police is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police and a member of Government of Norway. Current minister is Grete Faremo of the Norwegian Labour Party who is part of the second cabinet Stoltenberg...
from 1 November 1970 to 17 March 1971 in the non-Socialist coalition government led by Per Borten
Per Borten
was a Norwegian politician from the Centre Party and Prime Minister of Norway from 1965 to 1971. Per Borten is credited for leading the modernization of what was then named Bondepartiet into today's Centre Party...
. He was Minister of Industry in the second cabinet Willoch
Second cabinet Willoch
Willoch's Second Cabinet was a majority, Conservative/Centre/Christian Democrat Government of Norway. It succeeded the Conservative First cabinet Willoch in mid-term to secure a majority, right-winged government, and sat from 8 June 1983 to 8 May 1986...
from 16 September 1983 to 4 October 1985, and 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...
with the Syse Cabinet
Cabinet Syse
Syse's Cabinet was a minority, Conservative/Centre/Christian Democrat Government of Norway. It succeeded the Labour Second cabinet Brundtland after the 1989 election, and sat between 16 October 1989 and 3 November 1990...
from 16 October 1989 to 3 November 1990.
Syse was President of the Lagting 1993–1997.
Political legacy
Syse was well liked and respected among political allies and adversaries alike, known for his passion for the viability of non-socialist cooperation and practical results of his work. He worked for cooperation within the Nordic region and especially to integrate the Baltic statesBaltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
within the Nordic Council. Known for his rhetorical skills, his son has published a book that describes his speeches and style.