Kristin Halvorsen

Kristin Halvorsen (born 2 September 1960) is a Norwegian politician of the Socialist Left Party. She served as Minister of Finance from 2005 to 2009 and as Minister of Education from 2009 to 2013. She also served as the party's leader from 1997 to 2012 and a member of parliament representing Oslo, from 1989 to 2013.

Kristin Halvorsen
Halvorsen in 2018.
Minister of Education and Research
In office
20 October 2009 – 16 October 2013
Prime MinisterJens Stoltenberg
Preceded byBård Vegar Solhjell
Succeeded byTorbjørn Røe Isaksen
Minister of Finance
In office
17 October 2005 – 20 October 2009
Prime MinisterJens Stoltenberg
Preceded byPer-Kristian Foss
Succeeded bySigbjørn Johnsen
Leader of the Socialist Left Party
In office
3 May 1997 – 11 March 2012
DeputyØystein Djupedal
Bård Vegar Solhjell
Audun Lysbakken
Preceded byErik Solheim
Succeeded byAudun Lysbakken
Member of the Storting
In office
1 October 1989 – 30 September 2013
DeputyHeidi Sørensen
Akhtar Chaudhry
ConstituencyOslo
Personal details
Born (1960-09-02) 2 September 1960
Horten, Vestfold, Norway
Political partySocialist Left
SpouseCharlo Halvorsen
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Oslo

Taking over as leader of the Socialist Left Party in 1997, she established an unprecedented level of consensus within the party. At the 2005 election, the party received a disappointing 8.8% share of the vote, and in 2009 down further, to 6.2%. She stepped down as leader in 2012, and was succeeded by Audun Lysbakken on 11 March.

The Socialist Left, in coalition with the Labour Party and the Centre Party, won Norway's September 2005 parliamentary elections. The resulting Red-Green coalition government marked the first time that the Socialist Left Party was included in the cabinet. Halvorsen took office as Minister of Finance, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

Background

Halvorsen was born in Horten, Vestfold. After taking university courses in pedagogy (1.5 years) and criminology (1 year) without receiving a degree, Halvorsen worked for a while as a legal secretary. She served as a vice member to the Parliament from 1985, and was elected member of Parliament in 1989, representing the county of Oslo, a seat she has held ever since. She has been a member of the parliamentary standing Committee on Finance (1989–1997) and the Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs (1997–2001). She is presently a member of the Election Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the Socialist Left Party's parliamentary group, but is on leave from these positions while sitting in government.

Halvorsen was the first Norwegian party leader to launch a blog.

Kristin Halvorsen's parents are Leif Georg Halvorsen, a civil engineer, and Marit Larsen, a teacher. Kristin is married to Charlo Halvorsen, an editor at Norsk Rikskringkasting.[1]

Controversies

Kindergarten coverage promise

In the electoral campaign of the 2005 election Halvorsen announced that she would leave politics if the government would not be able to provide all citizens with kindergarten for their children by the end of 2007, and proclaimed that "this is so important for me that you'll get rid of me if we don't accomplish this".[2] While she stood firmly by her announcement even two months after the election,[3] she in October 2006 simply withdrew her promise, stating that "what I have said is that we'll have full coverage in 2007. But nobody will get rid of me if full coverage is missing in one or two municipalities".[2] By the end of 2007, 90 percent of municipalities will be able to offer kindergarten for all applicants, with the not fully covered constituting approximately 43 municipalities in Norway.[4]

Poverty resolved "with the stroke of a pen" claim

In the same electoral campaign she claimed that poverty in Norway could be eliminated "with the stroke of a pen". After being elected to government and becoming Minister of Finance, by the end of the four-year term she had not accomplished this, as homelessness was actually increasing. When attending a television program during the 2009 electoral campaign, she also refused to apologise to the poor in Norway for her failure.[5]

Israel boycott

On 5 January 2006, Halvorsen caused a controversy by calling for boycott of Israeli products as a sign of solidarity with the Palestinians.[6] The government and the other parties in the coalition distanced themselves from these remarks,[7] and Halvorsen later apologized as foreign matters were outside her government position.[8]

In January 2009, Halvorsen took part in anti-Israel protests which erupted into violent riots.[9]

Books
  • Rett fra hjertet (Straight from the Heart), 2004

References
  1. Ellen Kongsnes (4 April 2014). "Kristin på blind date men Charlo" [Kristin on blind date with Charlo]. Stavanger Aftenblad. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  2. "Halvorsen går ikke likevel". DinSide (in Norwegian). 23 October 2006. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009.
  3. "Halvorsen: - Full barnehagedekning, ellers går jeg av" [Halvorsen: - Full day care, or I go]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 18 November 2005. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009.
  4. Almendingen, Berit (18 December 2007). "Bryter barnehageløftet". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 19 February 2008.
  5. Skarvøy, Jars joakim (20 August 2009). "Nekter å be de fattige om unnskyldning". Nettavisen. Archived from the original on 22 August 2009.
  6. "Norway split over Israel boycott". BBC News. 5 January 2006. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009.
  7. "SV's boycott call embarrasses government". Aftenposten. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  8. Hege Lyngved Odinsen (1 June 2006). "Kristin Halvorsen beklager boikott-uttalelser" [Kristin Halvorsen apologizes about boycott statements]. Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  9. "160 personer innbrakt av politiet" (in Norwegian). NRK. 10 January 2009.
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