Raymond Johansen
Raymond Johansen (14 February 1961) is a Norwegian politician and party secretary of the Labour Party, following the footsteps of his uncle, Thorbjørn Berntsen, who is one of the veterans of the Norwegian Labour Party.
Originally a member of the Socialist Left Party, he chaired their youth wing Socialist Youth from 1986 to 1988 and was a member of the central party board from 1986 to 1991. He chaired the local party chapter in Oslo from 1990 to 1991, and was city commissioner (byråd) of the environment and transport in the city government of Oslo from 1991 to 1995.[1] He was not re-elected in 1995, and left the Socialist Left Party.
He then worked in the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation from 1996 to 2000 and was secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council from 2002 to 2005. In 2002 he briefly worked at the Norwegian embassy in Asmara. During the first and second cabinet Stoltenberg he was State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[1]
On 18 March 2007, Johansen met with members of the newly elected Hamas unity government and announced that Norway will resume economic aid. He also expressed hope that other European states will follow their lead.
On 21 April 2009 he was elected as Party Secretary of the Labour Party on its national convention. The position is traditionally both powerful and influential. Following scandal-like revelations in the spring of 2012 concerning Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who has widely been seen as the most likely successor to party leader and prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, Johansen has been cited as a more likely candidate to succeed Stoltenberg.[2]
He is married with two children,[1] and resides in Oslo. He is a plumber of education. From 1999 to 2001 he was a member of the board of Vålerenga Fotball.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Statssekretær Raymond Johansen" (in Norwegian). Government.no. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
- ↑ Haugan, Bjørn; Ertesvåg, Frank; Gillesvik, Kjetil (19 April 2012). "- Tschudi-saken har svekket Støres ledersjanser" [- The Tschudi affair has weakened Støre's leadership chances]. VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 April 2012.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Merete Johnson |
Oslo City Commissioner of Transport and the Environment 1992–1995 |
Succeeded by Steinar Saghaug |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Kristin Halvorsen |
Leader of the Socialist Youth 1986–1988 |
Succeeded by Paul Chaffey |
| Preceded by Martin Kolberg |
Party Secretary of the Labour Party 2009– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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