Åslaug Haga
Encyclopedia
Åslaug Marie Haga is a Norwegian
politician. She was the leader of the Centre Party
from 2003 to 2008.
, Akershus
. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Oslo
. She later joined the diplomatic corps, serving at the Norwegian delegation to the United Nations
in New York
in the late 1980s and at the Norwegian embassy in New Delhi
in India
in the early 1990s.
from 1999 to 2000. In 2001, she was elected to the Storting from Akershus county, and she was reelected in 2005. In 2003, while the Centre Party was an opposition party, she became party leader. As leader of the Centre Party, Haga was instrumental in swinging the party's political course to the left, bringing it into a coalition with the Labour Party
and the Socialist Left Party
for the first time.
Following the success of this Red-Green Coalition
in the 2005 parliamentary elections
, the Centre Party entered the government, and Haga succeeded Erna Solberg
as Minister for Local Municipalities and Regional Development
in the second cabinet Stoltenberg
. In September 2007, she became Minister of Petroleum and Energy
, succeeding Odd Roger Enoksen
, and leaving the regional department to Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa
. On 11 April 2008, Haga announced that she would not be seeking re-election to Parliament at the 2009 election
, and that she would step down as Centre Party leader before the election.
On 19 June 2008, she resigned as Minister of Petroleum and Energy, and as leader of the Centre Party. She cited health problems following a building violations scandal as her reason for resigning. Haga was the last of six ministers who have resigned during the second cabinet Stoltenberg
.
Haga was replaced as Minister of Petroleum and Energy by Terje Riis-Johansen.
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. She was the leader of 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...
from 2003 to 2008.
Early life and career
Haga was born in NesNes, Akershus
Nes is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årnes.-Name:...
, Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. She later joined the diplomatic corps, serving at the Norwegian delegation to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the late 1980s and at the Norwegian embassy in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the early 1990s.
Political career
She served as Minister of CultureMinister of Culture and Church Affairs (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Culture and Church Affairs is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs.-Minister of Culture and Science:-Minister of Culture and Church Affairs:-Minister of Culture:...
from 1999 to 2000. In 2001, she was elected to the Storting from Akershus county, and she was reelected in 2005. In 2003, while the Centre Party was an opposition party, she became party leader. As leader of the Centre Party, Haga was instrumental in swinging the party's political course to the left, bringing it into a coalition with the 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....
and 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...
for the first time.
Following the success of this 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...
in the 2005 parliamentary elections
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 12 September 2005. More than 3.4 million Norwegians were eligible for vote for the Storting, the parliament of Norway. The new Storting has 169 members, an increase of four over the 2001 election....
, the Centre Party entered the government, and Haga succeeded Erna Solberg
Erna Solberg
Erna Solberg is a Norwegian politician, and current leader of the Conservative Party of Norway. She was the Municipal and Regional Minister in Kjell Magne Bondevik's second government, 19 October 2001 until 17 October 2005. In 2005, she was appointed a Commander of the Order of St. Olav.-Early...
as Minister for Local Municipalities and Regional Development
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development (Norway)
The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development is a Norwegian minister that is head of the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development...
in the second cabinet Stoltenberg
Second cabinet Stoltenberg
Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet is the current government of Norway. Appointed on 17 October 2005, it is a coalition between the Labour Party, the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party, known as the Red–Green Coalition. The cabinet has ten members from the Labour Party, five from the Socialist...
. In September 2007, she became Minister of Petroleum and Energy
Minister of Petroleum and Energy (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.- Councillor of State and Chief of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy 1978 – 1992 :...
, succeeding Odd Roger Enoksen
Odd Roger Enoksen
Odd Roger Enoksen is a Norwegian politician representing the Norwegian Centre Party.Having an agronomist education, he previously worked as a farmer. He was first elected to Parliament in 1989, after a career in local politics...
, and leaving the regional department to Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa
Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa
Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa is a Norwegian politician for the Centre Party. She was the Minister of Social Affairs from 1997 to 2000 and was appointed Norwegian Minister of Local Government and Regional Development on 21 September 2007. On 20 October 2009, she swapped departments and became Minister...
. On 11 April 2008, Haga announced that she would not be seeking re-election to Parliament at the 2009 election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009
The 2009 parliamentary election was held in Norway on 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities held open...
, and that she would step down as Centre Party leader before the election.
On 19 June 2008, she resigned as Minister of Petroleum and Energy, and as leader of the Centre Party. She cited health problems following a building violations scandal as her reason for resigning. Haga was the last of six ministers who have resigned during the second cabinet Stoltenberg
Second cabinet Stoltenberg
Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet is the current government of Norway. Appointed on 17 October 2005, it is a coalition between the Labour Party, the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party, known as the Red–Green Coalition. The cabinet has ten members from the Labour Party, five from the Socialist...
.
Haga was replaced as Minister of Petroleum and Energy by Terje Riis-Johansen.