Gerd-Liv Valla
Encyclopedia
Gerd-Liv Valla was the leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
(LO). She took over in 2001 (from former leader, Yngve Hågensen
) and resigned in 2007. In 1997 she was the Norwegian Minister of Justice.
in Hemnes
municipality, Nordland. Their father was active in the Norwegian Agrarian Association
, and her brother Nils Valla would become a national leader of this organization. Gerd-Liv Valla moved to Hemnesberget
to compete her primary education, and to Mo i Rana
for upper secondary school. While living in Mo, she competed for Mo IL
in middle distance running and set a Northern Norwegian record in the 800 metres
. The time was 2:18.1 minutes, achieved in June 1968 on Bislett stadion
.
, with minors in social anthropology
and public law
. She graduated as cand.polit.
from the University of Oslo
in 1977, and took paedagogical seminary in 1979. She headed the Norwegian Student Union 1974–75.
For seven years she was married to historian Harald Berntsen
. Together they have a daughter.
She has worked both in the trade union
s and as first consultant and office leader at the Research Council of Norway, as well as lector
at Eik Teacher Academy
in Tønsberg
.
In 1997 she was appointed Minister of Justice and the Police
in the cabinet Jagland
, replacing Anne Holt
who left. Valla lost this job in late 1997, when the cabinet Jagland lost the election and was replaced by the first cabinet Bondevik
.
Ivar Hippe
was one of her political consultants when this controversy started.
Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions is a national trade union center, decidedly the largest and probably the most influential umbrella organization of labour unions in Norway. The 21 national unions affiliated to the LO have more than 850,000 members of a Norwegian population of 4.8 million...
(LO). She took over in 2001 (from former leader, Yngve Hågensen
Yngve Hågensen
Yngve Hågensen is a retired Norwegian labour union leader.From an early age Hågensen has been active in Norwegian organization life and politics...
) and resigned in 2007. In 1997 she was the Norwegian Minister of Justice.
Early life
Valla grew up on a farm near BjerkaBjerka
Bjerka is a village in the municipality of Hemnes, Norway. Its population is 452....
in Hemnes
Hemnes
Hemnes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Korgen.- Municipality history :...
municipality, Nordland. Their father was active in the Norwegian Agrarian Association
Norwegian Agrarian Association
The Norwegian Agrarian Association is the largest Norwegian interest organization for farmers.It functions both as a labour union and as a trade union. It negotiates with the Norwegian Farmers and Smallholders Union and the Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion about agricultural...
, and her brother Nils Valla would become a national leader of this organization. Gerd-Liv Valla moved to Hemnesberget
Hemnesberget
Hemnesberget is a small town in the municipality of Hemnes, Norway. Its population is 1,337....
to compete her primary education, and to Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
for upper secondary school. While living in Mo, she competed for Mo IL
Mo IL
Mo Idrettslag is a football club from Mo i Rana, Norway. They currently play in the Norwegian Third Division, the fourth highest division in the Norwegian football league system, having been relegated from the 2010 Norwegian Second Division....
in middle distance running and set a Northern Norwegian record in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. The time was 2:18.1 minutes, achieved in June 1968 on Bislett stadion
Bislett stadion
Bislett Stadion is a sports stadium in Oslo, Norway. Bislett is Norway's most well known sports arena internationally, with 15 speed skating world records and more than 50 track and field world records having been set here...
.
Education and professional life
Valla has a major degree in political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, with minors in social anthropology
Social anthropology
Social Anthropology is one of the four or five branches of anthropology that studies how contemporary human beings behave in social groups. Practitioners of social anthropology investigate, often through long-term, intensive field studies , the social organization of a particular person: customs,...
and public law
Public law
Public law is a theory of law governing the relationship between individuals and the state. Under this theory, constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law...
. She graduated as cand.polit.
Cand.polit.
Candidatus rerum politicarum , Candidata rerum politicarum , abbreviated cand.polit., is an academic degree within the fields of social sciences issued under the old education system in Denmark and Norway.-Denmark:...
from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1977, and took paedagogical seminary in 1979. She headed the Norwegian Student Union 1974–75.
For seven years she was married to historian Harald Berntsen
Harald Berntsen
Harald Berntsen is a national historian and is active in the radical left in Norway.- Background, upbringing and work :...
. Together they have a daughter.
She has worked both in the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s and as first consultant and office leader at the Research Council of Norway, as well as lector
Lector
Lector is a Latin term for one who reads, whether aloud or not. In modern languages the word has come to take various forms, as either a development or a loan, such as , , and . It has various specialized uses:...
at Eik Teacher Academy
Vestfold University College
Vestfold University College is a university college, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the county of Vestfold, Norway. The university college's campuses were formerly located in Borre and Eik. From 2010 the whole university college was colocated at Campus Bakkenteigen in Horten...
in Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
.
In 1997 she was appointed Minister of Justice and the Police
Minister of Justice and the Police (Norway)
In Norway, the Minister of Justice and the Police is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police and a member of Government of Norway. Current minister is Grete Faremo of the Norwegian Labour Party who is part of the second cabinet Stoltenberg...
in the cabinet Jagland
Cabinet Jagland
Jagland's Cabinet governed Norway between October 25, 1996 and October 17, 1997. It had the following composition:-Cabinet members:-References:* - Regjeringen.no...
, replacing Anne Holt
Anne Holt
-Career:She was born in Larvik, grew up in Lillestrøm and Tromsø, and moved to Oslo in 1978 where she lives today with her registered partner Anne Christine Kjær and their daughter Iohanne. Holt graduated with a law degree from the University of Bergen in 1986, and worked for The Norwegian...
who left. Valla lost this job in late 1997, when the cabinet Jagland lost the election and was replaced by the first cabinet Bondevik
First cabinet Bondevik
Bondevik's First Cabinet governed Norway between 17 October 1997 to 3 March 2000. It was led by Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, and consisted of the Christian Democratic Party, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party. There was a major reshuffle in March 1999. It had the following...
.
Controversy
In January 2007 Valla was accused of harassment and of having an authoritarian leading style by Ingunn Yssen, a former deputy. This sparked enormous media-interest in Valla, and generated heated debate over her future as leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions. On 9 March, under massive pressure, she announced her resignation after a controversial external inquiry found that she and LO had violated several Norwegian labor laws.Ivar Hippe
Ivar Hippe
Ivar Hippe is a Norwegian political consultant, former journalist and presenter. He received national media attention in 1982 when he was expelled from Argentina by the government. Upon returning to Norway he began working for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation...
was one of her political consultants when this controversy started.