Per Borten
Encyclopedia
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 (the Agrarian
Party) into today's Centre Party. He was an active opponent of Norway joining the European Union
.
Borten was born in Flå
in the municipality of Melhus
in Sør-Trøndelag
, and was educated Agriculturist
from the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1939. He started his political career serving as mayor of his home municipally, Flå, from 1945 to 1955. He was elected to the Norwegian parliament in 1949 and stayed there until his retirement in 1977. Borten was President of the Odelsting 1961–1965 and 1973–1977.
He was appointed president of the Odelsting, acted as the parliamentary leader for his party and served as its chairman from 1955 to 1967. As Prime Minister of Norway
from 1965, he headed a four-party center-right coalition government, until 17 March 1971, when the government dissolved itself. He resigned as Prime Minister when it became known that he had shown confidential information about Norway in the negotiations concerning European Economic Community
membership, with amongst others, Arne Haugestad
, then leader of the People's Movement against Norwegian membership of the EEC.
After his retirement from politics, Borten continued to speak out on issues such as nuclear disarmament
, clandestine surveillance, and the controversy on Norway's relationship to the European Union. He served on the boards of several public banking organizations. He earned a reputation for being an engaging and somewhat contrarian figure in the Norwegian political landscape.
His down-to-earth nature had been strongly underlined in 1969, when newspaper Dagbladet
interviewed him at his farm while he was prime minister. He did the interview wearing nothing but a pair of shoes, a hat and trunks, only days before Queen Elizabeth II was invited to the same farm on a state visit to Norway. The picture of Borten in his underwear went around the world, and the British newspaper Daily Mirror printed the picture over two pages with the headline: Now the Norwegian Prime Minister is ready to receive the Queen.
Another popular story was when Borten's Defense Minister, Otto Grieg Tidemand
, invited him and others to a private dinner. After eating, Tidemand surprised his guests with the finest vintage brandy
. Without blinking Borten responded by pouring the brandy into his coffee, making himself karsk
.
Borten died at St. Olav's Hospital in Trondheim
at the age of 91. he was buried at Flå Church
in the municipality of Melhus.
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 Centre Party
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
and 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 1965 to 1971. Per Borten is credited for leading the modernization of what was then named Bondepartiet (the Agrarian
Agrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
Party) into today's Centre Party. He was an active opponent of Norway joining 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...
.
Borten was born in Flå
Flå, Sør-Trøndelag
Flå is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. Flå is located in the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Melhus. The administrative centre was the village of Ler. The main church for the area is Flå Church.-History:...
in the municipality of Melhus
Melhus
Melhus is a village and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Gauldalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Melhus...
in Sør-Trøndelag
Sør-Trøndelag
- References :...
, and was educated Agriculturist
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
from the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1939. He started his political career serving as mayor of his home municipally, Flå, from 1945 to 1955. He was elected to the Norwegian parliament in 1949 and stayed there until his retirement in 1977. Borten was President of the Odelsting 1961–1965 and 1973–1977.
He was appointed president of the Odelsting, acted as the parliamentary leader for his party and served as its chairman from 1955 to 1967. As 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 1965, he headed a four-party center-right coalition government, until 17 March 1971, when the government dissolved itself. He resigned as Prime Minister when it became known that he had shown confidential information about Norway in the negotiations concerning European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
membership, with amongst others, Arne Haugestad
Arne Haugestad
Arne Haugestad was a Norwegian Supreme Court lawyer, best known as the leader of the Norwegian movement against the EEC from 1970 to 1973, and as defender for Arne Treholt, after his conviction for espionage in 1985....
, then leader of the People's Movement against Norwegian membership of the EEC.
After his retirement from politics, Borten continued to speak out on issues such as nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
, clandestine surveillance, and the controversy on Norway's relationship to the European Union. He served on the boards of several public banking organizations. He earned a reputation for being an engaging and somewhat contrarian figure in the Norwegian political landscape.
His down-to-earth nature had been strongly underlined in 1969, when newspaper Dagbladet
Dagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
interviewed him at his farm while he was prime minister. He did the interview wearing nothing but a pair of shoes, a hat and trunks, only days before Queen Elizabeth II was invited to the same farm on a state visit to Norway. The picture of Borten in his underwear went around the world, and the British newspaper Daily Mirror printed the picture over two pages with the headline: Now the Norwegian Prime Minister is ready to receive the Queen.
Another popular story was when Borten's Defense Minister, Otto Grieg Tidemand
Otto Grieg Tidemand
Otto Grieg Tidemand was a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Oslo.From 1965 to 5 June 1970 he served as the Minister of Defence during the centre-right cabinet of Per Borten...
, invited him and others to a private dinner. After eating, Tidemand surprised his guests with the finest vintage brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
. Without blinking Borten responded by pouring the brandy into his coffee, making himself karsk
Karsk
Karsk is a Norwegian name for liqueur coffee with moonshine or vodka as the liqueur, and maybe a spoon of sugar...
.
Borten died at St. Olav's Hospital in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
at the age of 91. he was buried at Flå Church
Flå Church
Flå Church is a parish church in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ler.The wooden church was built in 1794 to hold up to 150 people. The church is part of the Flå parish in the Gauldal deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros.-See also:*Horg...
in the municipality of Melhus.
External links
- Vassbotn, Per (1986) Da Borten falt: Gjensyn med regjeringens Lekkasje og forlis 1971 (Oslo: Cappelen) ISBN 978-8202107260
- Hoemsnes, Ole N (1986) Skjebnedøgn: Om Borten-regjeringens fall (Gyldendal) ISBN 978-8205169210