Jonas Gahr Støre (;In isolation, Støre is pronounced . born 25 August 1960) is a Norwegian politician who has served as the prime minister of Norway since 2021. He has been leader of the Labour Party since 2014. He served under prime minister Jens Stoltenberg as minister of foreign affairs from 2005 to 2012 and as minister of health and care services from 2012 to 2013. Støre has been a member of the Storting for Oslo since 2009.
Støre was born in Oslo, grew up in West End Oslo and underwent naval officer training at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy. He studied political science at Sciences Po in Paris from 1981 to 1985 and international relations at the London School of Economics. As a student in Paris, he was active in the efforts to support the Jewish refuseniks in the Soviet Union.
Støre was a career special adviser and director-general in the Prime Minister's Office from 1989 to 1997, serving under prime ministers Jan Syse, Gro Harlem Brundtland, and Thorbjørn Jagland. He became known as a protégé of Brundtland in the 1990s, and her mentorship inspired him to become a member of the Labour Party in 1995. In 1998, he followed Brundtland to the World Health Organization, where he became her chief of staff. Støre was state secretary and chief of staff in the Prime Minister's Office in the first government of Jens Stoltenberg; the government was inspired by the British New Labour project. He later served as secretary-general of the Norwegian Red Cross from 2003 to 2005.Støre, Jonas Gahr ( 1960- ) Stortinget.no. Retrieved 7 November 2013. Like his political mentors Brundtland and Stoltenberg, Støre is mostly associated with the business-friendly right-wing of the Labour Party. He became a household name for Norwegians during his tenure as foreign minister, when he was voted the most popular member of the cabinet several times.
Despite the Labour Party receiving 1% fewer votes and losing a seat, the centre-left won a majority in the 2021 Norwegian parliamentary election. As the leader of the largest party, Støre was the clear favourite for the role of prime minister. Two days after the resignation of Erna Solberg and her government on 12 October 2021, Støre was appointed as prime minister by King Harald V, leading a minority government with the Centre Party. In early 2025, the Centre Party left the coalition. Støre led the Labour Party to victory in the 2025 parliamentary election and has continued to lead a Labour minority government since.
Background
Family Born in Oslo, Støre is the son of ship broker Ulf Jonas Støre (1925–2017) and librarian Unni Gahr (1931–2021).Jonas Gahr Støre Store Norske Leksikon. Retrieved 16 February 2013. He grew up in the Ris neighbourhood in West End Oslo.Jonas Gahr Støre, Norsk biografisk leksikon Støre is a multi-millionaire, with a fortune of around (approx. in 2016). He owns a large part of the family company Femstø. Most of the family fortune comes from the 1977 sale of Norwegian company Jøtul, which was run by his maternal grandfather Johannes Gahr. Støre's paternal grandfather was prominent business executive Jonas Henry Støre, the CEO and chairman of explosives manufacturer Norsk Sprængstofindustri. Støre's great-grandfather Paul Edvart Støre was a Conservative Party mayor and deputy member of the Norwegian parliament from Levanger, and the family were affluent farmers in Trøndelag in the 19th century.
Støre married Marit Slagsvold, a sociologist and minister in the state Church of Norway in 1988.Aftenposten. 25 June 1988. p. 18.Jonas Gahr Støres kone ordineres til prest They have three sons, who attended Oslo Waldorf School.Hallgeir Opedal: Internasjonal samlivsterapeut. Dagbladet, 10 July 2013 Støre is a professed Christian and a member of the state church.
Education and early career
Støre attended Slemendal Primary School, Ris Lower Secondary School and Berg School in Oslo. He then underwent naval officer training at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy from 1979 to 1980 before serving as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Norwegian Navy from 1980 to 1981. He later studied political science for five years at Sciences Po in Paris. He started studying for a PhD at The London School of Economics, but dropped out after a few weeks.
In 1986, Støre was briefly a teaching fellow in the Harvard Negotiation Project at Harvard Law School. From 1986 to 1989 he was a researcher at the Norwegian School of Management, working on the Scenarier 2000 project with sociologist Andreas Hompland and economist Petter Nore.
Career in public administration Støre applied for a position as a political advisor on foreign affairs for the Conservative Party in 1988. He was offered the job but subsequently turned it down. In 1989, Støre became special adviser in the Prime Minister's Office of Gro Harlem Brundtland. Brundtland's mentorship inspired him to become a member of the Labour Party in 1995, when he also became a director-general (ekspedisjonssjef) in the Prime Minister's Office. From 1998, he was executive director (Chief of Staff) in the World Health Organization under the leadership of Gro Harlem Brundtland.
Støre was executive chairman of the ECON Analyse think tank from 2002 to 2003, and secretary general of the Norwegian Red Cross from 2003 to 2005.
Political career
Chief of staff Støre was State Secretary and Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister's Office in the first government of Jens Stoltenberg from 2000 to 2001. The government was inspired by the British Labour Party's New Labour agenda and oversaw the most widespread privatization in Norwegian history.
Foreign minister
After the 2005 parliamentary election, Støre was appointed foreign minister in Jens Stoltenberg's government, serving in that position until 2012. When he joined the cabinet he was perceived as part of a group of "West End executives" and confidants of Stoltenberg that represented a shift to the right. Nevertheless, numerous polls showed that Støre was the most popular member of the Stoltenberg government. However, he was also subject to criticisms in 2010 when he and Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, minister of health, accepted expensive rugs from Afghan politicians.
In 2006, Støre voiced concern over the 2006 Lebanon War. Støre called Israel's reaction "totally unacceptable" and referred to it as "a dangerous escalation," while also condemning Hezbollah's attack on Israeli soldiers.Norway condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon
Støre criticized the expansion of influence of the G20 in response to the 2008 financial crisis, calling it "sorely lacking in legitimacy" and comparing it to the Congress of Vienna.
Assassination attempts
On 14 January 2008, a suicide bomber struck the Serena Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, where Støre was staying.Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel, BBC News, 14 January 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008. Støre was unhurt in the incident, which killed six people including Norwegian journalist Carsten Thomassen.Bombeangrep mot Støres hotell, Aftenposten, 14 January 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that Støre was the target of the attack,FNs generalsekretær: – Støre var målet , Aftenposten, 14 January 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008. but this claim was rejected by a Taliban spokesperson.Taliban: – Støre var ikke målet, VG Nett, 14 January 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008. Støre cancelled the rest of his visit to Afghanistan the day after the attack.VG: Støre trolig hjem til Norge etter terrorangrepet, published 14 January 2008
On 22 July 2011, Støre was one of the main targets of Anders Behring Breivik's attacks.
Minister of Health and Care Services
On 21 September 2012, Jens Stoltenberg commenced a cabinet reshuffle, and moved Støre to head the Ministry of Health and Care Services. He was succeeded as foreign minister by Espen Barth Eide.
Member of Parliament
In the 2009 general election in Norway, Støre was elected to the Norwegian parliament, the Stortinget, representing Oslo. He has been re-elected since.
As a member of parliament Støre nominated one of the two recipients of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, Maria Ressa.
Leader of the Labour Party On 14 June 2014, he was elected leader of Labour Party, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg, who had been appointed Secretary General of NATO. He also became Leader of the Opposition. Støre led the party into the 2017 Norwegian parliamentary election, but the red-green coalition lost by four seats needed for a majority of 85 seats. His party was criticised for taking victory for granted.
In August 2017, Støre received criticism when it was revealed that workers in a building company hired to do work on his holiday home had not paid taxes or VAT.
In late 2017, several women alleged that the party deputy leader Trond Giske had behaved inappropriately against them. Initially, Støre stated that Giske hadn't behaved as such after an internal discussion regarding the matter. In early January 2018, Giske decided to resign as deputy leader as a result of the allegations, while reasoning from the party was also given that he had breached rules of sexual misconduct. Giske's successor, Bjørnar Skjæran, was nominated on 19 March 2019. Following the nomination, Støre praised Skjæran, saying he would be the clear voice from the North.
Støre led the party into the 2021 Norwegian parliamentary election, this time securing the red-green coalition a majority with 89 seats (85 being needed for a majority), defeating the blue-blue coalition led by incumbent prime minister Erna Solberg. Pre-government negotiations began on 23 September in Hurdal, after the Centre Party became open to working with the Socialist Left Party. On 29 September, the Socialist Left Party withdrew from negotiations, notably citing disagreements on issues such as petroleum and welfare. Støre expressed disappointment and said he had hoped for a different outcome, but added he respected the party's decision. The Labour Party and Centre Party began government negotiations later that same day. On 8 October, Støre and Vedum announced that the new government's platform would be presented on 13 October and that they were ready to form a government the day after, on 14 October. After Eva Kristin Hansen was nominated as the Labour Party's candidate for President of the Storting, Støre presented the proposal in the Storting on 9 October, and the vote to confirm her happened in writing. Hansen was confirmed with 160 votes in favour and 8 abstaining.
Prime Minister of Norway (2021–present)
Støre was appointed prime minister on 14 October 2021, following his party's victory in the parliamentary election held in September. He formed a minority government, with the Labour Party and Centre Party. The Centre Party withdrew from government in late January 2025, leaving Støre in charge of the first Labour minority government in 25 years. Støre led his party to re-election at the 2025 parliamentary election. He announced that the Labour Party would continue as a minority government, and that he would invite the other red-green parties to conversations about the cooperation in the upcoming parliamentary term.
Domestic policy