Young Liberals of Norway (NUV) is the youth league of the Norwegian

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...

 political party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 Venstre

Venstre (Norway)

The Liberal Party is a centrist liberal political party in Norway. The party is the oldest in the country, and has enacted reforms such as parliamentarism, freedom of religion, universal suffrage and free education. Since 2010, the leader of the party is Trine Skei Grande...

. Young Liberals was founded on 27 January 1909, with Anders Kirkhusmo

Anders Kirkhusmo

Anders Kirkhusmo was a Norwegian educator, born in Ålen. He was the first president of the Young Liberals of Norway, from 1909 to 1912. He chaired Norges Lærerlag for sixteen years, from 1917 to 1933. He was a member of several central committees, including chairman of two parliamentary school...

 as the first president. The current president is Sveinung Rotevatn

Sveinung Rotevatn

Sveinung Rotevatn is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party . Rotevatn comes from Nordfjordeid, Sogn og Fjordane, and studies law at the University of Bergen....

, since 2010. Vice-Presidents are Hanne Kvilhaugsvik and Andreas Skjæret, and the International Officer is Sunniva Skjeggestad. It advocates a more liberal version of the mother party's social liberalist

Social liberalism

Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...

 ideology.

Young Liberals of Norway is a member of the international liberal youth organizations

• European Liberal Youth
  European Liberal Youth
  European Liberal Youth is an international organisation of Liberal youth movements - mostly the youth wings of members of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party....
  
   (LYMEC)
• International Federation of Liberal Youth
  International Federation of Liberal Youth
  The International Federation of Liberal Youth is an international liberal youth organization. It consists of a global membership of national youth organizations. These are often but not exclusively affiliated with political parties that are members of Liberal International.IFLRY continues the...
  
   (IFLRY)
• Nordic Liberal and Radical Youth (NLRU).

Name

The Norwegian name 'Unge Venstre' has historical reasons, and although it literally translates as 'Young Left' in English, Young Liberals of Norway are not socialists, but in fact liberals. To avoid confusion, the official English-language name of the party is 'Young Liberals of Norway'. Proposals to change the name of Unge Venstre to 'Liberal Ungdom' ('Liberal Youth') have been defeated in successive congresses.

Policies of Young Liberals of Norway

• The Young Liberals are strongly in favour of fighting climate change, calling it "the greatest threat of our time" on their website. As a result the Young Liberals are in favour of helping renewable energy become competitive through subsidies, but believe that the market rather than politicians should determine which technology is best. The Young Liberals oppose the construction gas power stations without Carbon capture and storage
  Carbon capture and storage
  Carbon capture and storage , alternatively referred to as carbon capture and sequestration, is a technology to prevent large quantities of from being released into the atmosphere from the use of fossil fuel in power generation and other industries. It is often regarded as a means of mitigating...
  
  , and opposes subsidies for polluting industries. The Young Liberals are also in favour of other types of environmental protection, such as hindering oil exploration of the coast of Lofoten
  Lofoten
  Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
  
   due to the fragility of the environment.
• The Young Liberals are in favour of free trade
  Free trade
  Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
  
  , especially the removal of tariffs on the products of developing nations. This is seen as an integral part of achieving global economic justice rather than a threat to it.
• The Young Liberals are arguably the most pro-immigration political group in Norway, and advocate free labour immigration. The Young Liberals supports compulsory classes in Norwegian as a prerequisite for gaining citizenship.
• The Young Liberals are in favour of Norwegian membership in 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...
  
  , and criticise the European Economic Area
  European Economic Area
  The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
  
   agreement as undemocratic because Norway is not represented when decisions regarding it are taken.
• The Young Liberals have recently become especially prominent in the debate on drug policy, and is advocating harm reduction policies. It is calling for decriminalizing use of all drugs, as well as marijuana legalization and regulation. The youth party also advocates administration of clean heroin to drug addicts who have not succeeded in other means of rehabilitation. Furthermore, the party stresses that more resources must be spent on rehabilitation, health care and follow-ups for both previous and existing drug addicts.

Relationship with Venstre

Young Liberals of Norway are independent of Venstre

Venstre (Norway)

The Liberal Party is a centrist liberal political party in Norway. The party is the oldest in the country, and has enacted reforms such as parliamentarism, freedom of religion, universal suffrage and free education. Since 2010, the leader of the party is Trine Skei Grande...

 but co-operates closely with them, for example the leader of Young Liberals is automatically a member of the central governing body (Sentralstyret) of Venstre. Venstre and Young Liberals have different opinions on some matters, most prominently in that Young Liberals of Norway supports Norwegian entry into 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...

 while Venstre opposes this. The Young Liberals of Norway failed to make Venstre

Venstre (Norway)

The Liberal Party is a centrist liberal political party in Norway. The party is the oldest in the country, and has enacted reforms such as parliamentarism, freedom of religion, universal suffrage and free education. Since 2010, the leader of the party is Trine Skei Grande...

 pro-EU during Venstre's party congress in April 2009.

The Young Liberals are generally more liberal

Liberalism

Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...

 in their views than the mother party, both on social and economic issues. They aim to influence Venstre views so that they accords more with those of the Young Liberals. Notable recent victories include convincing Venstre to support heroin prescription in the treatment of addiction, to consider drug decriminalization and to support intellectual property

Intellectual property

Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...

 reform, especially with regards to file sharing

File sharing

File sharing is the practice of distributing or providing access to digitally stored information, such as computer programs, multimedia , documents, or electronic books. It may be implemented through a variety of ways...

 of music.

Central Board

The central board members of the Norwegian Young Liberals are:

• Sveinung Rotevatn
  Sveinung Rotevatn
  Sveinung Rotevatn is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party . Rotevatn comes from Nordfjordeid, Sogn og Fjordane, and studies law at the University of Bergen....
  
    (president)
• Haakon Riekeles  (First deputy president)
• Daniel Heggelid-Rugaas (Second deputy president)
• Andreas Skjæret  (International Officer)
• Per Magnus Finnager Sandsmark
• Boel Alexandra Kvam
• Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik
• Hanne Kvilhaugsvik
• Mathias Bratz Queseth

Deputies:

• Kathrine Næss Hald
• Runar Mæland
• Ida Johanne Bohmann
• Johanne Stemre

Secretary General: Anders Bergsaker

Leaders of Young Liberals of Norway

2010- Sveinung Rotevatn Sveinung Rotevatn Sveinung Rotevatn is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party . Rotevatn comes from Nordfjordeid, Sogn og Fjordane, and studies law at the University of Bergen.... 2007-2010 Anne Solsvik Anne Solsvik Anne Solsvik is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party .Between 2007 and 2010 she was the leader of the Young Liberals of Norway, the youth wing of the Liberal Party... 2003-2007 Lars-Henrik Michelsen Lars-Henrik Michelsen Lars-Henrik Paarup Michelsen was president of Young Liberals of Norway from 2003 to 2007.He serves as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Hordaland during the term 2005–2009.... 2001-2003 Monica Tjelmeland 1998-2001 Jennie Johnsen Jennie Johnsen Jennie Johnsen is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party.From 1998 to 2001 she was the leader of the Young Liberals of Norway, the youth wing of the Liberal Party. She was a vice leader of the Liberal Party from 2002 to 2004.In 1995, at only 17 years of age, she was elected to serve in Skien... 1997-1998 Sverre Molandsveen 1994-1997 Helge Solum Larsen Helge Solum Larsen Helge Solum Larsen is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party.From 1994 to 1997 he was the leader of the Young Liberals of Norway, the youth wing of the Liberal Party.... 1992–1994 Per Tore Woie 1990–1992 Gunn-Vivian Eide Gunn-Vivian Eide Gunn-Vivian Eide is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party.From 1990 to 1992 she was the leader of the Young Liberals of Norway, the youth wing of the Liberal Party.... 1988–1990 Atle Hamar 1986–1988 Guro Fjellanger Guro Fjellanger Guro Fjellanger is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party. She served as Minister of the Environment in the first cabinet Bondevik, as the first Norwegian government minister with a disability.-Career:... 1985–1986 Hege Berg-Nielsen 1983–1985 Erling Moe 1981–1983 Jesper W. Simonsen 1980–1981 Øystein Heggen 1979–1980 Torgeir Anda 1976–1979 Olav Ljøsne 1975–1976 Ottar Grepstad Ottar Grepstad Ottar Grepstad is a Norwegian Nynorsk writer.He was born in Øyer. In the 1970s he was the leader of the Young Liberals of Norway for a period. From 1984 to 1988 he edited the periodical Syn og Segn. He worked in Det Norske Samlaget for many years, and has been manager for Noregs Mållag. In 1999 he... 1975–1976 Jørn Rattsø Jørn Rattsø Jørn Rattsø is a Norwegian professor of economics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and chairman of Enova.-Biography:... 1972–1974 Carl Johan Sverdrup 1970–1972 Odd Einar Dørum Odd Einar Dørum Odd Einar Dørum is a Norwegian politician and former member of parliament, representing The Liberal Party.Dørum was Minister of Transport and Communications from 17 October 1997 to 15 March 1999, then Minister of Justice until 3 March 2000. He was again Minister of Justice in the second government...

1968–1970 Kjell G. Rosland 1966–1968 Ola H. Metliaas 1964–1966 Halle Jørn Hanssen Halle Jørn Hanssen Halle Jørn Hanssen is a Norwegian television correspondent, development aid administrator and politician.He was born in Brønnøy, and worked as a teacher in Vinje, Sør-Trøndelag before enrolling at the University of Oslo. He graduated with the cand.mag... 1962–1964 Olav Myklebust 1960–1962 Magne Lerheim Magne Lerheim Magne Lerheim was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party and later the Liberal People's Party.From 1960 to 1962 he was the leader of the Young Liberals, the youth wing of the Liberal Party. During the short-lived cabinet Lyng in 1963, Lerheim was appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of... 1956–1960 Odd Grande 1955–1956 Ragnar Sem (during Skjønsberg's stay abroad) 1952–1956 Simen Skjønsberg 1950–1952 Jon Ola Norbom 1950 Helge Røed (during Kortner's stay abroad) 1948–1950 Olaf Kortner 1946–1948 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... 1934–1946 Aasmund Næs 1930–1934 Johannes Teigland 1926–1930 Anton Laurin 1920–1926 Olav Gullvåg Olav Gullvåg Olav Gullvåg was a Norwegian playwright, novelist, poet and editor.He was born in Trondheim. He worked as editor-in-chief of Søndmøre Folkeblad from 1911 to 1912, Norig from 1912 to 1921 and Gula Tidend from 1921 to 1929... 1916–1920 Torkell Løvland 1914–1916 Toralv Øksnevad Toralv Øksnevad Toralv Øksnevad was a Norwegian politician, journalist, newspaper editor and radio personality. He was known as the "voice from London" during World War II, when listening to foreign radio in Norway was illegal, and from October 1942 implied risk of death penalty... 1912–1914 Hans Hope 1909–1912 Anders L. Kirkhusmo

External links

• Website of Unge Venstre
• The Young Liberals of Norway