Anniken Huitfeldt
new Minister of
equality, women
and children
 Anniken Huitfeldt with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, after she was named a government minister at the Royal Palace. PHOTO: CORNELIUS POPPE/SCANPIX Anniken Huitfeldt has been part of the Labour Party faithful most of her adult life. Now her political career has led to her appointment as the government minister in charge of children's and equality issues. PHOTO: KNUT FALCH/SCANPIX |
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Huitfeldt, age 38, earlier headed the Labour Party's youth organization AUF and has been working for the party most of her adult life.
She takes over a post (Barne- og likestillingsminister) vacated by Manuela Ramin-Osmundsen, who had little political experience and only served a few months before being forced to resign in a controversy involving her hiring of a new children's ombudsman.
Some argue that Stoltenberg took a chance in appointing Ramin-Osmundsen, and now is turning to a trusted party colleague to take over the ministerial post that has a high profile in Norway's social welfare state.
Huitfeldt, who has three young children of her own, has been known as an outspoken liberal who most recently has headed the party's internal network that champions women's issues. That network earlier gave its support to Huitfeldt, and she'd been considered the hottest candidate for the job.
Huitfeldt reportedly declined earlier opportunities to become a government minister, to be able to spend more time with her own children. Now she's apparently ready to take on the demanding job, where one of her first duties will be to appoint a new children's ombudsman.
Huitfeldt was formally named to the ministerial post in Friday's weekly Council of State at the Royal Palace.
Aftenposten English Web DeskNina Berglu
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