An extraordinary Council of State has been held in Oslo, attended by both King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon. The public was informed of the extraordinary Council of State only hours before it was held on March 7th 2022 at the Royal Palace in Norway’s capital.
It comes after a rapid change in Norwegian politics as a result of a controversy in the current government. Government member, Hadia Tajik, chose to resign as minister of Labour on March 2nd, after it became known that she had received benefits in the form of tax deductions and free housing paid for by parliament, to which she was not entitled.
Ministers who resign must meet in person with the King and ask for “resignation by pardon”. Hadia Tajik did not do this. She claimed to have cold symptoms and broke with tradition. She has been heavily criticized for this. Hadia Tajik has previously received strong criticism for her treatment of the royals and has openly stood out as a Republican.
In today’s extraordinary Council of State, Marte Mjøs Persen was approved by King Harald as the new Minister of Labour. At the same time, parliament member Terje Lien Aasland from Telemark was approved by the King to be the new Minister of Petroleum and Energy after Marte Mjøs Persen.
The Council of State in Norway consists of the most senior members of the government. They are chosen by the country’s Prime Minister. It usually meets once a week, on Fridays, at the Royal Palace in Oslo with the Norwegian monarch present.
Decisions made by the Government as a single body are made in the Council of State. This is presided over by the King, and such decisions are said to be made by “the King in the Council of State”. All acts of legislation and other decisions in the Council of State must be sanctioned by the King before they can take effect.
