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Politics & World • Norwegian Politics

Thorbjørn Jagland

Thorbjørn Jagland is a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party who served as prime minister of Norway, foreign minister, president of the Storting, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and secretary general of the Council of Europe.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Thorbjørn Jagland is a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party who served as prime minister of Norway, foreign minister, president of the Storting, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and secretary general of the Council of Europe. Born in Drammen in 1950, he has been a prominent figure in Norwegian and European politics for decades.

Early life and education

Thorbjørn Jagland was born on 5 November 1950 in Drammen, Norway, as Thorbjørn Johansen. He later adopted the surname Jagland.

Political career in Norway

Jagland led the Norwegian Labour Party from 1992 to 2002. He served as prime minister of Norway from 1996 to 1997, as foreign minister from 2000 to 2001, and as president of the Storting from 2005 to 2009.

Role in European institutions

Jagland was elected secretary general of the Council of Europe in 2009 and re-elected in 2014, serving until 2019.

Norwegian Nobel Committee

He served as chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015, a role associated with selecting the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Key facts

  • Led the Norwegian Labour Party from 1992 to 2002.
  • Served as prime minister of Norway from 1996 to 1997.
  • Was Norway’s foreign minister from 2000 to 2001.
  • Served as secretary general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019.
  • Chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015.
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Canadian context

Jagland’s career is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through his role in the Council of Europe, an important European institution on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Thorbjørn Jagland?
He is a Norwegian Labour Party politician who held senior offices in Norway and later served as secretary general of the Council of Europe.
When was Thorbjørn Jagland born?
He was born on 5 November 1950 in Drammen, Norway.
What was Thorbjørn Jagland’s highest office in Norway?
He served as prime minister of Norway from 1996 to 1997.
Did Thorbjørn Jagland lead the Labour Party?
Yes. He was leader of the Norwegian Labour Party from 1992 to 2002.
What did Thorbjørn Jagland do after Norwegian politics?
He became secretary general of the Council of Europe, serving from 2009 to 2019.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorbj%C3%B8rn_Jagland
    Supports: Birth date, birth name, nationality, and major Norwegian and international offices.
  2. Council of Europe — https://www.coe.int/fr/web/secretary-general/biography-thorbjorn-jagland
    Supports: Election and re-election as secretary general, Storting presidency, ministerial posts, birth place, and family details.
  3. Norwegian Wikipedia — https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorbj%C3%B8rn_Jagland
    Supports: Party leadership dates and core Norwegian political offices.