Rolf Ketil Bjørn
Encyclopedia
Rolf Ketil Bjørn was a Norwegian businessperson and politician for the Socialist Left Party
.
Bjørn was born in Kåfjord
as the son of director Rolf Bjørn (1906–2000) and housewife Mariane Malvik (1908–1993). He finished his secondary education in 1957, and eventually enrolled at the Norwegian School of Management
. He worked in the private company Gustaf Aspelin from 1964 to 1962, and in the family business Ric Bjørn from 1964 to 1989. Despite his social background in the petite bourgeoisie
, he became a member of left-wing political groups. For this, he earned the nickname "the red millionaire". From 1959 to 1964 he was a member of the secretariat of the Young Communist League of Norway
, having chaired the local branch in Tromsø
from 1952 to 1957. From 1966 he held local leadership in the Socialist People's Party
, which later became the Socialist Left Party
. He opposed Norwegian membership in the European Union
and NATO. Nonetheless, he did favor cooperation with the social democratic Labour Party
, both locally as well as in the national Red-Green Coalition
.
He was elected to serve in Tromsø municipal council in 1987. Halfway through the term, in 1989
, he was elected to represent Troms in the Norwegian Parliament. He was re-elected in 1993
for a second, but final term. After this he served more terms in the municipal council. He finally retired in 2007.
Bjørn was married, and had three children. He died in November 2008, at the University Hospital of North Norway, of cancer.
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
.
Bjørn was born in Kåfjord
Kåfjord
Gáivuotna or Kåfjord , is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Olderdalen.- General information :...
as the son of director Rolf Bjørn (1906–2000) and housewife Mariane Malvik (1908–1993). He finished his secondary education in 1957, and eventually enrolled at the Norwegian School of Management
Norwegian School of Management
BI Norwegian Business School former name BI Norwegian School of Management is the largest business school in Norway and the second largest in all of Europe. BI has in total 6 campuses with the main one located in Oslo.-History:...
. He worked in the private company Gustaf Aspelin from 1964 to 1962, and in the family business Ric Bjørn from 1964 to 1989. Despite his social background in the petite bourgeoisie
Petite bourgeoisie
Petit-bourgeois or petty bourgeois is a term that originally referred to the members of the lower middle social classes in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
, he became a member of left-wing political groups. For this, he earned the nickname "the red millionaire". From 1959 to 1964 he was a member of the secretariat of the Young Communist League of Norway
Young Communist League of Norway
Young Communist League of Norway was until April 2006 the youth league of Norges Kommunistiske Parti . April 1st 2006 NKP declared that NKU was no longer its youth organization, and that all youths interested in joining the movement should contact the party directly...
, having chaired the local branch in Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
from 1952 to 1957. From 1966 he held local leadership in the Socialist People's Party
Socialist People's Party (Norway)
Socialist People's Party was a splinter group of the Norwegian Labour Party . SF was principally dissatisfied with the pro-NATO/European Economic Community external policies of DNA. A group centered around the magazine Orientering had been expelled from DNA...
, which later became the Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
. He opposed 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 NATO. Nonetheless, he did favor cooperation with the social democratic Labour Party
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....
, both locally as well as in the national Red-Green Coalition
Red-Green Coalition (Norway)
The Red-Green Coalition is a centre-left coalition of Norwegian parties, formed by the Labour , the Socialist Left Party , and the Centre Party. Unlike many other Red-Green coalitions, the "Green" here is the colour of a centrist party rather than an actual Green party...
.
He was elected to serve in Tromsø municipal council in 1987. Halfway through the term, in 1989
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1989
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 11 September 1989.-Results:1 This list was a cooperation between the Norwegian Communist Party, Workers' Communist Party, Red Electoral Alliance and independent socialists....
, he was elected to represent Troms in the Norwegian Parliament. He was re-elected in 1993
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1993
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 13 September 1993. The Labour Party won a plurality of seats, and Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland remained in office. The Centre Party was particularly successful, gaining 21 seats....
for a second, but final term. After this he served more terms in the municipal council. He finally retired in 2007.
Bjørn was married, and had three children. He died in November 2008, at the University Hospital of North Norway, of cancer.