Erna Solberg

Erna Solberg in 2019

Erna Solberg (born 24 February 1961) is a Norwegian politician and the current Leader of the Opposition. She served as the 35th prime minister of Norway from 2013 to 2021, and has been Leader of the Conservative Party since May 2004. She was Norway's second female head of government after Gro Harlem Brundtland, and its first conservative leader to get reelected since the 1980s. As Prime Minister she handled Norway's responses to the European migrant crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. She continues to serve as Leader of the Opposition against Jonas Gahr Støre's government.

Quotes

• We will not be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals without investing in women and girls.
  • [1]

• The coronavirus pandemic has shown us that the gains we have made can easily be lost again.
  • [2] Erna on the COVID pandemic

• Women politicians have shone a spotlight on women’s everyday lives and the need to find a good work-life balance
  • [3] Erna on women in politics

• "I believe that if we manage to maintain and build on the innovative partnerships and the global solidarity that this crisis has spurred, we have a unique opportunity to adjust our course on several issue"
  • [4] on working extensively with the United Nations on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• "What this crisis and the pandemic shows us is that we are so interconnected in this world that we need to work together. There’s no way that we can handle this crisis without having a stronger international, multilateral cooperation"
  • [5] on the COVID pandemic

• "There is a big change going on, and that will happen anyway. The question is just how fast it will go. We don’t intend to speed it up politically"
  • [6] the prime minister said on a campaign stop in the southern town of Tvedestrand

• "One of our biggest challenges before has been to co-operate on the non-socialist [centre-right] side. We’ve managed that, even though it’s not been perfect"
  • [7] on projecting her minority government

• "So you have to have an inclusive policy on education and on skillsets to make sure you get people into work"
  • [8] on creating jobs

• "Norway will be a driving force in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, both at home and abroad"
  • [9] if she is elected, what she will do for the rest of us, around the world

• "A globalized world increases our mutual dependence. In an increasing number of areas, our domestic policy is affected by changes outside of our national borders"
  • [10] on the world

• "I think all European countries are increasing their spending on the defence and we are going to do that. We have also a large transformation of our defence. But I think the United States always will need some friends with the same type of value since basis and their closest friends are in the NATO alliance"
  • [11] on European countries defense