Bondevik, Kjell Magne

Kjell Magne Bondevik

Prime Minister of Norway (1997-2000, 2001-2005)

Date and Place of Birth:

3 September 1947, Molde (Norway).

Education:

Kjell Magne Bondevik became a theological candidate from the Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology (formerly known as the Free Faculty of Theology) in 1975. In 1979 he was ordained as pastor in the (Lutheran) Norwegian State Church.

Political Career:

Kjell Magne Bondevik’s political career began in 1968 when he became the deputy leader of the Christian Democratic Party. In 1970 he served as the leader of the party’s youth leadership organization. Mr Bondevik also participated in local politics as a member on the municipal council and the school board of Neshodden in the County of Akershus (1972-1973).

He served as a deputy member of Storting (Parliament of Norway) for the County of Møre og Romsdal (1969-1973), and has been a member of Storting since 1973. Bondevik was a member of Storting’s Standing Committee on Church and Education (1973-1977), the Standing Committee on Finance (1977-1983), the Standing Committee on Defence Affairs (1990-1993), and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs (1986-1989, 1993-1997, 2000-2001).

He served as his party’s parliamentary leader from 1981-1983, 1986-1989, 1993-1997, and 2000-2001. National-level positions include performing as State Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister during Lars Korvald’s government (1972-1973), Deputy for Prime Minister Willoch (1985-1986), Minister of Church and Education in Kåre Willoch’s government (1983-1986), and Minister of Foreign Affairs during the government of Jan P. Syse (1989-1990). Kjell Magne Bondevik was elected Prime Minister in 1997, in a coalition consisting of the Christian Democratic Party, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

He was appointed Prime Minister again in October 2001 heading a coalition government between the Christian People’s Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. He served until 2005.

Once his mandate as Prime minister was over, Mr. Bondevik went on to found the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights whose work is focused on human rights, democracy and inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. Mr. Bondevik also served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa in 2006-2007.

Other:

Kjell Magne Bondevik has been a Honorary Doctor of Law at Suffolk University in Boston (USA), Honorary Doctor of Politics at Wonkwang University Seoul (Republic of Korea), Honorary Doctor of Philosophy at Kyung Hee University in Seoul (Republic of Korea), and Honorary Professor at the Gumiljov University in Astana (Kazakhstan). He has served as bearer of the grand cross of Guatemala’s Order of the Quetzal, as well as the Grand Cross of Latvia’s Terra Mariana Order. He has also borne the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, the Grand Crosses of Italia’s Order of Merit, and Portugal’s Order of Merit.