President of the Storting

President of the Storting
Post	President of the Storting
Body	the Storting
Native name	Stortingspresident
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Coat of arms of the Storting
Incumbent	Masud Gharahkhani
Incumbentsince	2021
Department	Storting
Style	Mister President
Member of	Storting
Seat	Storting Building, Oslo
Nominator	Political groups
Appointer	Storting
Termlength	Corresponds with the parliamentary term
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Norway
Formation	1814
First	Christian Magnus Falsen
Website	[https://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/President-of-the-Storting/ stortinget.no]

President of the Storting. The presiding officer of the Storting, the supreme legislature of Norway. Elected by the members of parliament at the start of each new session, the position is one of significant constitutional authority and prestige, embodying the sovereignty of the Norwegian people. The president ensures orderly debate, represents the Storting in state ceremonies, and plays a central role in the nation's constitutional processes.

Role and responsibilities

The president presides over plenary sessions in the Storting Chamber, maintaining order and interpreting the Standing Orders of the Storting. A key duty is to chair the presidium, known as the Presidium of the Storting, which manages the parliament's internal administration. The president formally represents the Storting in all external matters, including in relations with the Norwegian Royal Family, the Government, and foreign legislatures like the Riksdag of Sweden and the Folketing of Denmark. During the State Opening of the Storting, the president receives the King and hears the Government's declaration of policy. The president also plays a ceremonial role in the appointment of a new government following a vote of no confidence or a general election.

Election and term

The election is conducted by secret ballot among the 169 representatives of the Storting at the first meeting after a general election. A candidate must secure an absolute majority of votes; if no majority is achieved, a second ballot is held between the two top candidates. The term corresponds with the four-year parliamentary term, though the president can be re-elected. The election is typically a formality following inter-party negotiations, often reflecting the balance of power among major parties like the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. The president remains in office until a successor is elected, even if the Storting is dissolved.

List of presidents

Since the establishment of the Constitution of Norway in 1814, there have been 36 presidents. The first was Christian Magnus Falsen, a key figure in the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll. Notable long-serving presidents include Carl Joachim Hambro, who led the Storting during the critical years of World War II and the German occupation of Norway, and Kåre Willoch of the Conservative Party. The first female president was Kirsti Kolle Grøndahl of the Labour Party, elected in 1993. The current president, Masud Gharahkhani of the Labour Party, elected in 2021, is the first person of immigrant background to hold the office.

Deputy presidents

The president is assisted by the vice president and five other deputy presidents, collectively forming the Presidium of the Storting. These deputy presidents are also elected by the Storting and represent different parliamentary parties to ensure broad consensus. They take turns presiding over debates in the absence of the president and are members of key committees like the Extended Foreign Affairs Committee. Prominent politicians who have served as deputy president include Per-Kristian Foss of the Conservative Party and Olaug Bollestad of the Christian Democratic Party.

Historical development

The office was formally established by the Constitution of Norway signed at Eidsvoll in 1814, mirroring traditions from the Danish-Norwegian union and other European legislatures. Its powers were clarified through subsequent amendments and the Standing Orders of the Storting. A significant evolution occurred after the adoption of parliamentarism in 1884, strengthening the Storting's role versus the Monarchy. The presidency gained further symbolic importance during the German occupation of Norway, when the Storting's defiance was centered on figures like Carl Joachim Hambro. The Storting Building's inauguration in 1866 provided a permanent seat, solidifying its institutional presence.

Relationship to other institutions

The president interacts closely with the Monarchy, formally communicating Storting resolutions to the King. The relationship with the Government is defined by the separation of powers; the president does not engage in political debate but ensures the Prime Minister and ministers are heard in the Storting Chamber. The president also works with the Supreme Court regarding constitutional review and impeachment trials. Internationally, the president engages with bodies like the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and hosts visiting dignitaries from institutions such as the European Parliament and the United Nations.

Category:Storting Category:Presiding officers of national legislatures Category:Politics of Norway