Rakel Seweriin
Encyclopedia
Rakel Seweriin, née Solberg (26 June 1906 – 17 September 1995) was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party
. She was the Norwegian Minister of Social Affairs from 1953 to 1955.
She was born in Hof as a daughter of Casper Fredrik Solberg (1870–1932) and Zefra Eliagna Natterstad (1871–1949). She grew up in Eidsfoss
, where her father managed Eidsfoss Station. Her mother was a hotelier. She commenced her studies in 1926, and took courses as a stenographer in 1927 and 1928. From 1929 she worked as a stenographer, in 1942 she left Norway due to World War II
. She and her husband had been active members of the Norwegian resistance movement, among others starting the illegal newspaper Fri Fagbevegelse. She continued her work abroad, as a stenographer for the exiled Norwegian High Command
in London
. She was also a member of the program council of the exiled part of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, from 1943 to 1945.
Seweriin had been a member of Oslo
city council from 1937 until the war broke out
, and also served briefly in 1945. She was the deputy leader of the Workers' Youth League
from 1937 to 1946. After the war she was a member of the Labour Party secretariat for women from 1945 to 1971—from 1953 to 1963 she chaired the secretariat, and was a member of the Labour Party's central committee. She was elected as a member of the Parliament of Norway in 1945
from the constituency Oslo, and was re-elected in 1949
, 1953
, 1957
, 1961
and 1965
. On 2 November 1953, she temporarily stepped out of parliament as she became Minister of Social Affairs in Torp's Cabinet
. She had worked with social policy as a parliamentarian, but in an interview with Trond Nordby
she confessed to having lacked a clear purpose with her position as Minister of Social Affairs. Legislative work in the ministry slowed down, and as leader of the ministry she was clearly dominated by the bureaucrat staff, especially Karl Evang
. She continued as Minister of Social Affairs until 1 August 1955, a few months after the formation of Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet. During this time, her seat in parliament was filled by Hjalmar Larsen, Aase Lionæs
and Gunnar Alf Larsen
. When she stepped down in 1969, her time of 24 years as a parliament member was a record for a woman in Norway.
Seweriin was also a member of the board of the Norwegian Directorate of Labour from 1947 to 1953 and 1955 to 1967, and of the Norwegian National Opera from 1957. She was a member of several public committees, among others commenting on existing laws. From 1963 to 1971 she chaired Landslaget for språklig samling.
Rakel Seweriin was married twice, first to teacher, journalist and writer Ernst Samuel Sørensen (1903–1972), then, from 1937, to physician Alf Christian Seweriin (1909–1961). She died in September 1995 in Oslo.
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....
. She was the Norwegian Minister of Social Affairs from 1953 to 1955.
She was born in Hof as a daughter of Casper Fredrik Solberg (1870–1932) and Zefra Eliagna Natterstad (1871–1949). She grew up in Eidsfoss
Eidsfoss
Eidsfoss is a village in Hof municipality, in Vestfold county, Norway. It is located near Lake Eikeren.The village was the site of the Eidsfos Iron Works which dated to 1697. The iron works was closed during 1873. The village is also the location of the historic Eidsfos Manor which dates from...
, where her father managed Eidsfoss Station. Her mother was a hotelier. She commenced her studies in 1926, and took courses as a stenographer in 1927 and 1928. From 1929 she worked as a stenographer, in 1942 she left Norway due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She and her husband had been active members of the Norwegian resistance movement, among others starting the illegal newspaper Fri Fagbevegelse. She continued her work abroad, as a stenographer for the exiled Norwegian High Command
Norwegian High Command
The Norwegian High Command was Norway's top military leadership from 1970 to 2003. It was first established in Northern Norway in 1940 by General Otto Ruge. It was then re-established by the Norwegian Government-in-exile in London in 1942, lasting until 1946...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She was also a member of the program council of the exiled part of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, from 1943 to 1945.
Seweriin had been a member of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
city council from 1937 until the war broke out
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
, and also served briefly in 1945. She was the deputy leader of the Workers' Youth League
Workers' Youth League (Norway)
The Workers' Youth League is Norways biggest political youth organization, and is affiliated with the Norwegian Labour Party.AUF took its current form in April 1927, following the merger of Left Communist Youth League and Socialist Youth League of Norway corresponding with the merger of its...
from 1937 to 1946. After the war she was a member of the Labour Party secretariat for women from 1945 to 1971—from 1953 to 1963 she chaired the secretariat, and was a member of the Labour Party's central committee. She was elected as a member of the Parliament of Norway in 1945
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1945
These elections were held on 8 October 1945. The Labour Party won an absolute majority in the Storting which they would keep until 1961.-Results:...
from the constituency Oslo, and was re-elected in 1949
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1949
The general election of 1949 was held to elect 150 MPs to the Storting. The Norwegian Labour Party increased its share of the vote an won a large majority of seats in the chamber....
, 1953
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1953
-Results:...
, 1957
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1957
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 7 October 1957. The election was a victory for the Labour Party, and Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet could continue. The Labour party again achieved an absolute majority in parliament, together with the highest popular vote in the...
, 1961
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1961
A general election was held to elect 150 MPs to the Norwegian parliament, the Storting.The Labour Party lost its absolute majority of seats that the party had held since 1945, winning 74 seats...
and 1965
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1965
-Results:...
. On 2 November 1953, she temporarily stepped out of parliament as she became Minister of Social Affairs in Torp's Cabinet
Torp's Cabinet
Torp's Cabinet governed Norway between 19 November 1951 and 21 January 1955. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Oscar Torp....
. She had worked with social policy as a parliamentarian, but in an interview with Trond Nordby
Trond Nordby
Trond Nordby is a Norwegian historian and political scientist.He graduated with the cand.philol. degree in 1972, and took the dr.philos. degree in 1984. He worked as a research fellow and lecturer of history at the University of Oslo from 1975 to 1986...
she confessed to having lacked a clear purpose with her position as Minister of Social Affairs. Legislative work in the ministry slowed down, and as leader of the ministry she was clearly dominated by the bureaucrat staff, especially Karl Evang
Karl Evang
Karl Evang was a Norwegian physician and civil servant.He was born in Kristiania as a son of assisting secretary Jens Ingolf Evang and Anna Beate Wexelsen . He was a brother of Vilhelm Evang, and a relative of Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen, Per Kvist and Gunnar Jahn. He met physician Gerda S...
. She continued as Minister of Social Affairs until 1 August 1955, a few months after the formation of Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet. During this time, her seat in parliament was filled by Hjalmar Larsen, Aase Lionæs
Aase Lionæs
Aase Lionæs was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.She was born in Oslo.She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo in 1958, and was re-elected on four occasions...
and Gunnar Alf Larsen
Gunnar Alf Larsen
Gunnar Alf Larsen was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Oslo.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo in 1965, and was re-elected on two occasions...
. When she stepped down in 1969, her time of 24 years as a parliament member was a record for a woman in Norway.
Seweriin was also a member of the board of the Norwegian Directorate of Labour from 1947 to 1953 and 1955 to 1967, and of the Norwegian National Opera from 1957. She was a member of several public committees, among others commenting on existing laws. From 1963 to 1971 she chaired Landslaget for språklig samling.
Rakel Seweriin was married twice, first to teacher, journalist and writer Ernst Samuel Sørensen (1903–1972), then, from 1937, to physician Alf Christian Seweriin (1909–1961). She died in September 1995 in Oslo.