Ola Skjåk Bræk
Encyclopedia
Ola Skjåk Bræk was a Norwegian
banker and politician for the Liberal Party. He was Minister of Industry in 1972–1973.
Skjåk Bræk was born in Eidsvoll, the second child of the local banker Gudbrand Bræk and his wife Elisabeth Fischer. Gudbrand Bræk managed Eidsvoll Sparebank, the local savings bank, and was also a co-founder of Bøndernes Bank. Ola studied law at the University of Oslo
and earned his cand.jur. degree in 1935. He married Ingeborg Wergeland, a noted peace activist. Among their children is Lise Skjåk Bræk
, a fashion and costume designer. Ola Skjåk Bræk moved to Ålesund
in 1950 to assume the presidency of Aalesund Nye Kreditbank, a savings and loan bank for the coastal region which eventually became merged into Sunnmørsbanken. He worked in this area - with leave for his time in the cabinet - until 1979, when he retired and moved to Trondheim.
He served in the position of deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Møre og Romsdal
during the terms 1965–1969 and 1973–1977. He became Minister of Industry in the coalition cabinet formed by Lars Korvald
after Trygve Bratteli
resigned his cabinet
after a referendum defeated his proposal for Norway to join the European Union
. Skjåk Bræk ended up on the anti-EEC side, and as such stayed in the Liberal Party after the party split in 1972. He played an active role in the post-World War II economic development in Western Norway and took political and professional interest in the appropriate use of Norway's natural resources
.
Ola Skjåk Bræk published his memoirs Hva brast så høyt? (ISBN 82-90330-50-2) in 1990, expressing several concerns about Norwegian economic policy.
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...
banker and politician for the Liberal Party. He was Minister of Industry in 1972–1973.
Skjåk Bræk was born in Eidsvoll, the second child of the local banker Gudbrand Bræk and his wife Elisabeth Fischer. Gudbrand Bræk managed Eidsvoll Sparebank, the local savings bank, and was also a co-founder of Bøndernes Bank. Ola studied law 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...
and earned his cand.jur. degree in 1935. He married Ingeborg Wergeland, a noted peace activist. Among their children is Lise Skjåk Bræk
Lise Skjåk Bræk
Lise Skjåk Bræk is a Norwegian textile artist, known for her works within ceremonial apparel, uniforms, costumes, rugs, and other textiles. She is a resident of Trondheim....
, a fashion and costume designer. Ola Skjåk Bræk moved to Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
in 1950 to assume the presidency of Aalesund Nye Kreditbank, a savings and loan bank for the coastal region which eventually became merged into Sunnmørsbanken. He worked in this area - with leave for his time in the cabinet - until 1979, when he retired and moved to Trondheim.
He served in the position of deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
during the terms 1965–1969 and 1973–1977. He became Minister of Industry in the coalition cabinet formed by Lars Korvald
Lars Korvald
was a Norwegian politician from the Christian Democratic Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1972 to 1973, leading the cabinet that took over when Trygve Bratteli resigned in the wake of the first referendum over Norway's membership in the European Economic Community.-Early life and...
after Trygve Bratteli
Trygve Bratteli
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party and Prime Minister of Norway in 1971–1972 and 1973–1976.-Early life and career:...
resigned his cabinet
First cabinet Bratteli
The Bratteli's First Cabinet governed Norway between 17 March 1971 and 18 October 1972. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Trygve Bratteli.On 8 May 1972 there was a cabinet reshuffle...
after a referendum defeated his proposal for Norway to join the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. Skjåk Bræk ended up on the anti-EEC side, and as such stayed in the Liberal Party after the party split in 1972. He played an active role in the post-World War II economic development in Western Norway and took political and professional interest in the appropriate use of Norway's natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
.
Ola Skjåk Bræk published his memoirs Hva brast så høyt? (ISBN 82-90330-50-2) in 1990, expressing several concerns about Norwegian economic policy.