Martin Kolberg
Encyclopedia
Martin Kolberg is a Norwegian
politician for the Labour Party
, where he was party secretary
.
was Minister of Foreign Affairs. In total he met 144 days as a deputy.
From 13 July 1995 to 25 October 1996, Kolberg was state secretary
at the Office of the Prime Minister
under the third cabinet Brundtland
. When the new cabinet Jagland was announced, it became clear that the new prime minister, Thorbjørn Jagland, who was also Kolberg's childhood friend, had discarded him as state secretary. Kolberg reacted with anger and frustration, and the media portrayed the matter as Jagland firing his best friend. Jagland stated that "Martin had wanted to work for Gro [Harlem Brundtland] ... I really wanted him to work as party secretary". To Kolberg's reaction, Jagland stated: "I followed an agreement between us, and I thought he did not want the job. I am very surprised by his reaction". Jagland further stated that it was all a misunderstanding, because he Jagland thought that Kolberg did not want to work with "the Norwegian House". Five days later, Kolberg was appointed state secretary in the Ministry of Defence
, where he remained until the cabined withdrew
on 17 October 1997, following the defeat in the 1997 election
.
Since 2002 he has been the party secretary of the Labour Party. In 2009 he will step down, choosing instead to stand for election again, this time with the prospect of winning a seat of his own. Several people have been suggested for the vacant position as party secretary, including Geir Axelsen
, Rita Ottervik
, Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen
, Raymond Johansen
, Trond Giske
and Bjarne Håkon Hanssen
.
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 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....
, where he was party secretary
Party secretary
In politics, a party secretary is a senior official within a political party with responsibility for the organizational and daily political work. In most parties, the party secretary is second in rank to the party leader ....
.
Political career
Kolberg served as a deputy representative in the Norwegian Parliament from 1977 to 1981. He served as a deputy representative for the second time from 2001 to 2005, and met regularly from 1 October to 19 October 2001 while Thorbjørn JaglandThorbjørn Jagland
is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party, currently serving as the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe...
was Minister of Foreign Affairs. In total he met 144 days as a deputy.
From 13 July 1995 to 25 October 1996, Kolberg was 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...
at the Office of the Prime Minister
Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
The Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister is a political and bureaucratic office that assists the Cabinet of Norway and the Prime Minister of Norway in the leadership of the Cabinet and Government. It has since 2005 been led by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg . Minister and Chief of Staff is Karl...
under the third cabinet Brundtland
Third cabinet Brundtland
Brundtland's Third Cabinet was a minority, Labour Government of Norway. It succeeded the Conservative/Centre/Christian Democrat Cabinet Syse, and sat between 3 November 1990 and 24 October 1996. It was replaced by the Labour Cabinet Jagland. The cabinet was active during two parliaments, both...
. When the new cabinet Jagland was announced, it became clear that the new prime minister, Thorbjørn Jagland, who was also Kolberg's childhood friend, had discarded him as state secretary. Kolberg reacted with anger and frustration, and the media portrayed the matter as Jagland firing his best friend. Jagland stated that "Martin had wanted to work for Gro [Harlem Brundtland] ... I really wanted him to work as party secretary". To Kolberg's reaction, Jagland stated: "I followed an agreement between us, and I thought he did not want the job. I am very surprised by his reaction". Jagland further stated that it was all a misunderstanding, because he Jagland thought that Kolberg did not want to work with "the Norwegian House". Five days later, Kolberg was appointed state secretary in the Ministry of Defence
Norwegian Ministry of Defence
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and defence policy, and for the overall management and control of the activities of subordinate agencies. The ministry is located at Glacisgata 1, Oslo,...
, where he remained until the cabined withdrew
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
on 17 October 1997, following the defeat in the 1997 election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1997
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 15 September 1997. Before the election, Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland of the Labour Party, issued the 36.9 ultimatum declaring that the government would step down unless it gained 36.9% of the vote, the percentage gained...
.
Since 2002 he has been the party secretary of the Labour Party. In 2009 he will step down, choosing instead to stand for election again, this time with the prospect of winning a seat of his own. Several people have been suggested for the vacant position as party secretary, including Geir Axelsen
Geir Axelsen
Geir Axelsen is a Norwegian civil servant and politician for the Norwegian Labour Party.-Early life:Born in Oslo, he has a cand.oecon...
, Rita Ottervik
Rita Ottervik
Rita Irene Ottervik is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party and mayor of Trondheim since 2003.She has a background as secretary in the Workers' Youth League and has been political advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister under Thorbjørn Jagland...
, Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen
Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen
Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party, and was a parliamentary representative for Finnmark from 1985 to 2009. He served as Minister of Fisheries from 1996 to 1997 and Minister of Finance from 2000 to 2001 in the first cabinet Stoltenberg...
, Raymond Johansen
Raymond Johansen
Raymond Johansen is a Norwegian politician and party secretary of the Labour Party, following the footsteps of his uncle, Thorbjørn Berntsen, who is one of the veterans of the Norwegian Labour Party....
, Trond Giske
Trond Giske
Trond Giske is a Norwegian politician and the current Minister of Trade and Industry representing the Norwegian Labour Party in the government headed by Jens Stoltenberg....
and Bjarne Håkon Hanssen
Bjarne Håkon Hanssen
Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, has been the Norwegian Minister of Health since 20 June 2008 as part of the second cabinet Stoltenberg. On October 8, 2009 Hansen announced that he would step down as a minister when Stoltenberg's new cabinet is put together...
.