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== Career ==

== Career ==

Stoltenberg was in [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]]'s third cabinet (1993–1996), where he was Minister of Commerce and Energy. He was Minister of Finance in [[Thorbjørn Jagland]]'s cabinet (1996–1997), and became Leader of the [[Norwegian Labour Party]] in 2002, after being Vice Leader since 1992.

Stoltenberg was in [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]]'s third cabinet (1993–1996), where he was Minister of Commerce and Energy. He was Minister of Finance in Thorbjørn Jagland's cabinet (1996–1997), and became Leader of the Norwegian Labour Party in 2002, after being Vice Leader since 1992.

== Prime Minister ==

== Prime Minister ==

Stoltenberg's left-leaning government narrowly defeated a splintered center-right opposition in the September 2009 elections.  The Labor government came under challenge by  Siv Jensen and her right-wing populist Progress Party, which has gained support by calling for lowering Norway's famously high taxes and tightening immigration rules. Debate centered on how to manage the Nordic welfare state's oil wealth.<ref>Karl Ritter, "[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090914/ap_on_re_eu/eu_norway_election Norway election focused on oil wealth]", ''AP'' Sept. 14, 2009</ref>  

Stoltenberg's left-leaning government narrowly defeated a splintered center-right opposition in the September 2009 elections.  The Labor government came under challenge by  Siv Jensen and her right-wing populist Progress Party, which has gained support by calling for lowering Norway's famously high taxes and tightening immigration rules. Debate centered on how to manage the Nordic welfare state's oil wealth.<ref>Karl Ritter, "[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090914/ap_on_re_eu/eu_norway_election Norway election focused on oil wealth]", ''AP'' Sept. 14, 2009</ref>  

Stolenberg's cabinet consisted of Labor, [[Center Party (Norway)|Center]] and [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left]] Parties, and held the majority in the Norwegian parliament, the [[Stortinget|Storting]].

Stolenberg's cabinet consisted of Labor, Center and [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left]] Parties, and held the majority in the Norwegian parliament, the [[Stortinget|Storting]].

Reelected in September 2009, Stoltenberg’s next task is to draw up a new coalition pact and a budget for 2010. He favored oil exploration around the pristine Lofoten archipelago in the Arctic, but this was opposed by the Socialist Left. He wanted Norway to join the [[European Union]]—particularly if Iceland succeeds in its quest for membership, but Norwegians have turned down membership before.

Reelected in September 2009, Stoltenberg’s next task is to draw up a new coalition pact and a budget for 2010. He favored oil exploration around the pristine Lofoten archipelago in the Arctic, but this was opposed by the Socialist Left. He wanted Norway to join the [[European Union]]—particularly if Iceland succeeds in its quest for membership, but Norwegians have turned down membership before.

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== References ==

== References ==