Kare Willoch

Kåre Willoch was a Norwegian politician who served as the 30th prime minister of Norway from 1981 to 1986 and as leader of the Conservative Party from 1970 to 1974. He previously served as the Minister of Trade and Shipping from August to September 1963 and 1965 to 1970, and as the president of the Nordic Council in 1973. After stepping down as Prime Minister, he later served as Governor of both Oslo as well as Akershus counties from 1990 to 1998 and as Chairman of Norway's state broadcasting company NRK from 1998 to 2000. ¹ Following his retirement from politics he became an outspoken advocate of the environment and human rights and was widely respected for his activism including amongst Norway's political left. He also wrote several books. ¹ Willoch was born on 3 October 1928 in Oslo, to Haakon Isaachsen Willoch and his wife, Agnes Christine Saure. ¹ He grew up in the West End of Oslo, and took the examen artium in 1948. ² After that, he studied economics at the University of Oslo, where he was taught by the Nobel Prize winners Trygve Haavelmo and Ragnar Frisch. ² He graduated with the cand.oecon. degree in 1953. ² From 1951 onwards, Willoch was a member of the Oslo city council, and later in 1953, he became a deputy in the Parliament of Norway. He became a member of parliament after the 1957 parliamentary election, and was at 29 years then the youngest MP. ² On 1 May 1954, he married Anne Marie Jørgensen. They had three children together. ¹ Willoch was a devout Christian and a member of the Norwegian Church. He was also interested in culture and arts, and served as a board member of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and the Oslo Philharmonic. ¹ Willoch was a prominent figure in Norwegian politics for several decades. He was known for his liberal economic policies, his support for NATO and the European integration, and his opposition to the Norwegian monarchy. ¹² He led the Conservative Party to victory in the 1981 parliamentary election, ending eight years of Labour Party rule. He formed a minority government with the support of the Christian Democratic Party and the Centre Party. ¹ He implemented several reforms, such as reducing taxes, deregulating the economy, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and strengthening the welfare state. ¹² He also improved Norway's relations with the United States and other Western allies, and supported the peace process in the Middle East. ¹ In 1985, Willoch's government was re-elected, but with a reduced majority. He continued his reform agenda, but faced increasing opposition from the Labour Party and the trade unions. ¹ In 1986, his government collapsed after the Centre Party withdrew its support over a dispute about the gas power plant at Kårstø. ¹ Willoch resigned as prime minister and was succeeded by Gro Harlem Brundtland of the Labour Party. ¹ He remained as a member of parliament until 1989, and then became the Governor of Oslo and Akershus. ¹ After retiring from politics, Willoch became a vocal critic of the Norwegian government's policies on various issues, such as immigration, climate change, foreign aid, and Israel. ² He advocated for a more humane and compassionate approach to refugees and asylum seekers, and for a more constructive dialogue with the Muslim world. ² He also supported the rights of the Palestinians and criticized the Israeli occupation and settlements. ² He was a member of the International Council of the World Social Forum and the Elders, a group of global leaders working for peace and human rights. ¹² Willoch died on 6 December 2021 in Oslo, at the age of 93, from heart failure. ¹ He was widely mourned by the Norwegian public and political leaders, who praised his legacy and contributions to the country. ² He was buried at Vestre gravlund in Oslo. ¹