Siv Jensen steered the Progress Party through its transition into the Solberg Cabinet, marking the first time the organization participated in the Norwegian government. Holding office as Minister of Finance from 2013 to 2020, she managed the national economy while navigating the complexities of a centre-right coalition and shifting parliamentary dynamics within the Storting.
Early Development and Academic Training
Born in Oslo in 1969, Jensen attended Marienlyst elementary school before completing her secondary education at Oslo Commerce School in 1988. She pursued higher studies at the Norwegian School of Economics, graduating with a degree in business in 1992. Her early professional experience included a stint as a sales consultant for Radio 1, though she transitioned into full-time politics by 1994.
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Jensen joined the Progress Party in 1988 after a brief one-week membership in the Young Conservatives. She aligned herself with chairman Carl I. Hagen during internal party disputes in the 1990s. By 1998, she served as the first deputy chairman of the party and became parliamentary leader in 2005. She succeeded Hagen as leader in 2006, a role she maintained until 2021.
Parliamentary Tenure and Executive Service
Her legislative career began as a deputy member of parliament from 1993 to 1997, followed by consecutive terms as a full member starting in 1997 through 2021. She chaired the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs between 2001 and 2005. As Minister of Finance, she became the longest-serving individual in that cabinet post since World War II by October 2019.
Government Participation and Withdrawal
Under Jensen, the Progress Party secured record results in the 2009 election and eventually entered the Solberg Cabinet in 2013. In January 2020, she led the party's withdrawal from the government coalition, citing policy disputes regarding the repatriation of an ISIS-affiliated woman and her child. She officially stepped down as party leader in 2021, favoring Sylvi Listhaug as her successor.
Fast facts
- Born: 1969, Oslo, Norway
- Party: Progress Party
- Education: Norwegian School of Economics
- Minister of Finance: 2013-2020
- Member of Parliament: 1997-2021
- Party Leader: 2006-2021
- Religion: Lutheranism
Questions readers ask
Did Siv Jensen serve in the military?
No, her career path focused on economics, politics, and service in the Parliament of Norway.
What was the reason for the Progress Party's withdrawal from government in 2020?
Jensen withdrew the party in protest over the coalition's decision to repatriate an ISIS-related woman and her child.
Achievements
- member of the Parliament of Norway (1997–2001)
- Minister of Finance of Norway (2013–2020)
- member of the Parliament of Norway (2017–2021)
- deputy member of the Parliament of Norway (1993–1997)
- Educated at Oslo Commerce School and Norwegian School of Economics
