34 Facts About Erna Solberg

Erna Solberg served as the prime minister of Norway from 2013 to 2021, and has been the leader of the Conservative Party since May 2004.

Erna Solberg has emphasized the social and ideological basis of Conservative policies, though the party has become visibly more pragmatic.

In May 2018, Erna Solberg surpassed Kare Willoch to become the longest-serving prime minister of Norway from the Conservative Party.

Erna Solberg then returned to being the Leader of the Opposition.

Erna Solberg was born 24 February 1961 in Bergen in western Norway and grew up in the affluent Kalfaret neighbourhood.

Erna Solberg had some struggles at school, and at the age of 16 was diagnosed with dyslexia.

Erna Solberg was nevertheless an active and talkative contributor in class.

Erna Solberg chaired local and municipal chapters of the Young Conservatives and the Conservative Party.

Erna Solberg was first elected to the Storting from Hordaland in 1989 and has been re-elected five times.

Erna Solberg was the leader of the national Conservative Women's Association, from 1994 to 1998.

From 2001 to 2005 Erna Solberg served as the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development under Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik.

Erna Solberg's alleged tough policies in this department, including a firm stance on asylum policy, earned her the nickname "Jern-Erna" in the media.

In 2003, Erna Solberg proposed introducing Islamic Sharia Councils in Norway after being informed of the existence of such councils in the United Kingdom, and, in 2004, said that she wished to increase immigration to Norway.

Erna Solberg had Mordechai Vanunu denied political asylum so as not to damage relations with Israel.

Erna Solberg served as deputy leader of the Conservative Party from 2002 to 2004 and, in 2004, she became the party leader.

Erna Solberg made regular visits to schools, health facilities and smaller municipalities, explaining to all that the goal was not to serve big business but to create conditions for the creation of new jobs, infrastructure development and economic restructuring.

Erna Solberg saw her long-term economic goal of moving Norway's economy out of dependence on oil revenues as achievable through traditional right-wing methods of tax cuts, spending reductions and privatisation of state shares in companies.

Erna Solberg became the head of government after winning the general election on 9 September 2013 and was appointed prime minister on 16 October 2013.

Erna Solberg is Norway's second female prime minister after Gro Harlem Brundtland.

Erna Solberg has combined numerous national positions as Minister, Parliamentarian and regional politician with a strong commitment to global solutions for development, growth and conflict resolution.

Erna Solberg negotiated with the Liberals to join the government in 2018.

Erna Solberg faced tensions between the components of her majority, leading to a break with the Progress Party.

Erna Solberg inherited the nickname "Iron Erna", in reference to the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, for her relentless management of the migration crisis in 2015, during which she had tightened reception conditions.

One day after her 60th birthday in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway, Erna Solberg breached national health guidelines by going to a restaurant in Geilo with her husband and 13 family members to celebrate her birthday.

Erna Solberg further stated that she should have known better.

Erna Solberg was fined 20,000 NOK after a police investigation was conducted.

Erna Solberg has shown particular interest in gender issues, such as girl's rights and education.

Erna Solberg has secured significant financial support for the Global Partnership for Education and hosted the Global Finance Facility for women's and children's health pledging Conference in Oslo in November 2018.

Erna Solberg was awarded the inaugural Global Citizen World Leader Award in 2018 for her international engagement.

Erna Solberg upheld that UN needs to be strengthened and that the world needs strong multilateral cooperation and institutions to tackle global challenges such as climate change, cyber security and terrorism.

On 20 May 2022, it was announced that Erna Solberg was becoming a board member of Global Citizen.

On 13 November, Erna Solberg announced that she would continue as leader of the Conservative Party and be their candidate for prime minister at the 2025 parliamentary election.

Erna Solberg claimed to have been unaware of his purchases and had even declared herself impartial in dealing with companies Finnes had stocks in.

Media reports indicated that Erna Solberg had a conflict of interest, even if she did not know about every transaction.