Thorbjørn Jagland

Who is Thorbjørn Jagland?

Thorbjørn Jagland is a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party, currently serving as the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. He is also the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which is responsible for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize.

Jagland studied economics at the University of Oslo. He started his political career in the Workers' Youth League, and served as national leader from 1977 to 1981.

Jagland served as Prime Minister of Norway from 1996 to 1997, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2000 to 2001, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Storting from 2001 to 2005 and President of the Storting from 2005 to 2009. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Jagland served as Party Secretary of the Norwegian Labour Party from 1986 to 1992, and subsequently Party Leader until 2002, when he was succeeded by Jens Stoltenberg. He was Member of the Storting from 1993 to 2009, when he did not run for reelection.

Few Norwegian politicians have held as many international positions as Jagland. He was Vice-President of the Socialist International and was Chair of the Organisation's Board when Willy Brandt was President.