View source for Thorbjørn Jagland

{{short description|Norwegian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = Thorbjørn Jagland
| image               = Thorbjørn Jagland (30366602783) (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Jagland in 2016
| office              = [[Secretary General of the Council of Europe]]
| deputy              = Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni
| term_start          = 1 October 2009
| term_end            = 18 September 2019
| predecessor         = [[Maud de Boer-Buquicchio]] {{small|(Acting)}}
| successor           = [[Marija Pejčinović Burić]]
| office1             = [[Prime Minister of Norway]]
| monarch1            = [[Harald V]]
| term_start1         = 25 October 1996
| term_end1           = 17 October 1997
| predecessor1        = [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]]
| successor1          = [[Kjell Magne Bondevik]]
| office2             = Leader of the [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour Party]]
| term_start2         = 8 November 1992
| term_end2           = 10 November 2002
| 1blankname2         = First Deputy
| 1namedata2          = [[Jens Stoltenberg]]
| 2blankname2         = Second Deputy
| 2namedata2          = [[Hill-Marta Solberg]]
| predecessor2        = Gro Harlem Brundtland
| successor2          = Jens Stoltenberg
| office3             = Chair of the [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]]
| term_start3         = 1 January 2009
| term_end3           = 3 March 2015
| predecessor3        = [[Ole Danbolt Mjøs]]
| successor3          = [[Kaci Kullmann Five]]
| office4             = [[List of presidents of the Storting|President of the Storting]]
| vicepresident4      = [[Carl I. Hagen]]
| monarch4            = Harald V
| primeminister4      = Kjell Magne Bondevik <br> Jens Stoltenberg
| term_start4         = 10 October 2005
| term_end4           = 30 September 2009
| predecessor4        = [[Jørgen Kosmo]]
| successor4          = [[Dag Terje Andersen]]
| office5             = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| primeminister5      = Jens Stoltenberg
| term_start5         = 17 March 2000
| term_end5           = 19 October 2001
| predecessor5        = [[Knut Vollebæk]]
| successor5          = [[Jan Petersen (politician)|Jan Petersen]]
| office8             = [[Storting|Member of the Norwegian Parliament]]
| term_start8         = 1 October 1993
| term_end8           = 30 September 2009
| deputy8             = [[Vidar Brynsplass]] <br> [[Frank Willy Larsen]] <br> [[Martin Kolberg]]
| constituency8       = [[Buskerud]]
| birth_name          = Thorbjørn Johansen
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1950|11|5|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Drammen]], Buskerud, Norway
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour]]
| spouse              = Hanne Grotjord
| children            = 2
| education           = [[University of Oslo]]
| signature           = Thorbjorn Jagland Signature.svg
}}
'''Thorbjørn Jagland''' ([[né]] '''Johansen'''; {{Audio|Thorbjorn Jagland.ogg|listen}}, 5 November 1950) is a Norwegian politician from the [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour Party]]. He served as the [[secretary general of the Council of Europe]] from 2009 to 2019. He served as the [[prime minister of Norway]] from 1996 to 1997, as the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|minister of Foreign Affairs]] from 2000 to 2001 and as the [[Storting#Presidium|president of the Storting]] from 2005 to 2009.

Jagland studied economics at the [[University of Oslo]] at introductory level, but did not graduate. He started his political career in the [[Workers' Youth League (Norway)|Workers' Youth League]], which he led from 1977 to 1981. He was party secretary from 1986 to 1992 and party leader from 1992 to 2002.

[[Jagland's Cabinet|Jagland's cabinet]], albeit short-lived, was marked by controversies, with two ministers being forced to withdraw following personal scandals.<ref name=nettavisen>{{Cite news |first=Berit |last=Almendingen |title=Skandale-statsrådene |url=http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/politikk/article1607714.ece |work=Nettavisen |date=16 February 2008 |language=no |access-date=31 March 2008 |archive-date=15 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415184351/http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/politikk/article1607714.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Jagland, who was much ridiculed in the media for his quotes and statements and frequently portrayed as incompetent,<ref name=norwegianhouse>{{Cite news |first=Halvor |last=Hegtun |title=Han kom igjen, ja, han er her allerede |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article790457.ece |work=Aftenposten |date=9 May 2004 |language=no |access-date=31 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418061114/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article790457.ece |archive-date=18 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> resigned following the [[1997 Norwegian parliamentary election|1997 election]], as a consequence of his much ridiculed [[36.9 ultimatum]], even though his party won the most votes. In 2010 a group of forty prominent historians ranked Jagland as the weakest Norwegian prime minister since the end of the Second World War;<ref>{{cite news|title=Svakeste statsminister siden krigen|trans-title=Weakest prime minister since the war|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.7293302|access-date=14 February 2011|newspaper=[[NRK|Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=16 September 2010|language=no|archive-date=21 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021070612/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.7293302|url-status=live}}</ref> two years before, his predecessor [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] had criticized his premiership in harsh terms and described Jagland as "stupid".<ref name="goll">{{Cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2743417.ece|first=Svein|last=Goll|title=Gro Harlem Brundtland criticises her successor Thorbjørn Jagland|date=10 October 2008|access-date=1 February 2009|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416082836/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2743417.ece|archive-date=16 April 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Also his term as Foreign Minister was marked by controversies, due to his perceived lack of qualification for the office and quotes and statements that were considered inappropriate.<ref name="vg.no">{{Cite news |title=Jagland omtalte president som Bongo fra Kongo |url=http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=1159979 |work=VG |date=2 June 2001 |language=no |access-date=19 February 2009 |archive-date=11 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111063813/http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=1159979 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jagland was widely perceived to have been passed over when Jens Stoltenberg formed his second cabinet in 2005.<ref name="dagbladet2005">{{cite web |author=Kirsten Karlsen |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/10/13/446178.html |title=Helt og holdent opp til Jens å velge utenriksminister - Dagbladet |publisher=Dagbladet.no |date=2005-10-13 |access-date=2017-12-20 |archive-date=14 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014023639/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/10/13/446178.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, Jagland was elected as the secretary-general of the [[Council of Europe]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2009/09/30/yagland/|access-date=2 October 2009|date=30 September 2009|title=THORBJORN JAGLAND ELECTED SECRETARY GENERAL OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE|publisher=panorama.am|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924065153/http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2009/09/30/yagland/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>"Jagland til Europarådet", ''Utdanning'', 9 October 2009, page 9</ref> In 2014 he was reelected for an additional five years.<ref name="website-pace.net">{{cite web |url=http://website-pace.net/documents/10643/110596/20140624-Election-SG-BIL.pdf/e81b719a-b7ca-40bf-8b2f-b17e1d871a72 |title=Archived copy |access-date=24 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402151405/http://website-pace.net/documents/10643/110596/20140624-Election-SG-BIL.pdf/e81b719a-b7ca-40bf-8b2f-b17e1d871a72 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> His tenure as secretary-general has been controversial, and he has been accused of inaction against corruption<ref>[https://www.aftenposten.no/amagasinet/i/roqbm/I-arevis-ble-Thorbjorn-Jagland-varslet-om-korrupsjon-i-Europaradet-Kritikerne-mener-han-ikke-gjorde-noen-ting I årevis ble Thorbjørn Jagland varslet om korrupsjon i Europarådet. Kritikerne mener han ikke gjorde noen ting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423165932/https://www.aftenposten.no/amagasinet/i/roqbm/I-arevis-ble-Thorbjorn-Jagland-varslet-om-korrupsjon-i-Europaradet-Kritikerne-mener-han-ikke-gjorde-noen-ting |date=23 April 2018 }}, ''[[Aftenposten]]''</ref><ref>[https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/zLPy9v/Ber-Jagland-vurdere-sin-stilling-som-Europaradets-generalsekretar Ber Jagland vurdere sin stilling som Europarådets generalsekretær: Thorbjørn Jagland har styrt Europarådet svært dårlig, og han har ikke tatt tak i korrupsjonen, mener en av lederne i Europarådets parlamentarikerforsamling] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170124/https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/zLPy9v/Ber-Jagland-vurdere-sin-stilling-som-Europaradets-generalsekretar |date=23 April 2018 }}, ''[[Aftenposten]]''</ref> and of servility towards [[Vladimir Putin]]'s [[Russia]].<ref>[https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/9mv5kW/Anklager-Jagland-for-a-gjore-knefall-for-Russland-Han-gir-Putin-en-propagandaseier_-hevder-politikere Anklager Jagland for å gjøre knefall for Russland. Han gir Putin en propagandaseier, hevder politikere] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215022519/https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/9mv5kW/Anklager-Jagland-for-a-gjore-knefall-for-Russland-Han-gir-Putin-en-propagandaseier_-hevder-politikere |date=15 December 2017 }}, ''[[Aftenposten]]''</ref> Jagland was a member of the [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]], and left in 2020;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/jagland-ferdig-i-nobelkomiteen-1.1784520 |title=Jagland ferdig i Nobelkomiteen - Innenriks |access-date=10 October 2020 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011233327/https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/jagland-ferdig-i-nobelkomiteen-1.1784520 |url-status=live }}</ref> he formerly served as its chairman from 2009 to 2015.

== Early and personal life ==
Thorbjørn Jagland was born on 5 November 1950 as Thorbjørn Johansen<ref name="Johansen">Lars Gisnås, "Men Bjørn vil være Hansen", Adresseavisen, 10 November 2001, p. 6.</ref> in [[Drammen]] and is the son of a [[welder]], Helge Th. Jagland, and a cook, Ingrid Bjerknes.<ref name=bio/> According to the Norwegian daily ''[[Dagbladet]]'', his father had additional duties as a kind of "steward" for his community, so when "the postal service had letters" or envelopes without a complete address, the mailman delivered many of them to Jagland's home, "since that was where everything happened".<ref>[https://www.dagbladet.no/meninger/jaglands-svartebok/73003979] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101124159/https://www.dagbladet.no/meninger/jaglands-svartebok/73003979|date=1 November 2020}}: "Oppvekstvilkår på Lier, i et beskjedent hus midt på en kornåker der det politiske aktivitetsnivået var høyt med en far som var tillitsvalgt i store deler av sitt liv. Postvesenet sendte alle brev som manglet adresse hit til huset i kornåkeren, siden det var der alt likevel foregikk."</ref> Jagland graduated from secondary school in 1969. Along with his twin brother Helge, Thorbjørn Jagland briefly studied economics at the University of Oslo, but was at the same time involved in politics and did not finish his studies.<ref name=bio/> Jagland and his parents changed their surname from Johansen, a common surname with working class connotations, to Jagland in 1957; the Jagland name was one of the proposed "new family names" which imitated traditional farm names in the book ''2000 nye slektsnavn'' ("2,000 new family names") by Astrid Moss; the book aimed to help members of the working class with common surnames to find more unique names.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/dei-nye-etternamna-1.11283114|title=Dei nye etternamna|first=Gøril Grov|last=Sørdal|website=Nrk.no|date=11 October 2013 |access-date=7 August 2018|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129054712/https://www.nrk.no/kultur/dei-nye-etternamna-1.11283114|url-status=live}}</ref>

He married journalist Hanne Grotjord in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/The-Government/Previous-governments/The-Structure-of-the-Registry/Ministries-and-Offices/Offices/prime-minister-since-1814/Thorbjorn-Jagland.html?id=463465&epslanguage=EN-GB|title=Thorbjørn Jagland|work=Government.no|access-date=31 March 2008|archive-date=12 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012024149/http://www.regjeringen.no/en/The-Government/Previous-governments/The-Structure-of-the-Registry/Ministries-and-Offices/Offices/prime-minister-since-1814/Thorbjorn-Jagland.html?id=463465&epslanguage=EN-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple has two sons, Anders (born 1978) and Henrik (born 1986).<ref name=brundtland>{{Cite news |first=Kirsten |last=Karlsen |title=- Jeg tenkte: Kan jeg være så dum? |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/art/thorbjorn_jagland/jens_stoltenberg/3655935/ |work=Dagbladet |date=8 November 2008 |language=no |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417003719/http://www.dagbladet.no/art/thorbjorn_jagland/jens_stoltenberg/3655935/ |archive-date=17 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> As Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Jagland resided in [[Strasbourg]], France, but has since moved back to Norway.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Jagland has been awarded the title of Commander of the National Order of the [[Legion of Honour]] of France for his "tireless commitment to the European continent and the universal values it represents".<ref>{{cite news |author=Einar Hagvaag |title=Jagland kommandør i den franske æreslegionen |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/10/25/nyheter/politikk/utenriks/samfunn/thorbjorn_jagland/29980785/ |newspaper=[[Dagbladet]] |date=25 October 2013 |access-date=25 October 2013 |language=no |archive-date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030005243/http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/10/25/nyheter/politikk/utenriks/samfunn/thorbjorn_jagland/29980785/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Political career==

===Early involvement, general secretary and elected party leader===
In 1966, at age 16, he joined the Lier chapter of the [[Workers' Youth League (Norway)|Workers' Youth League]] (AUF). Rising up rapidly through the party ranks, he was elected leader of the Workers' Youth League in [[Buskerud]], in 1973, a position he held until 1975. That year, he was elected member of the [[Buskerud County Municipality|Buskerud]] [[county council (Norway)|county council]]. In 1977, he became the national leader of the Workers' Youth League, a position he held until 1981.<ref name=bio>{{stortingetbio|TJ}}</ref> During this period, he said he wanted to bridge the gap between the [[youth wing]] and the mother party, but also expressed the need for the Workers' Youth League to have its own political platform. Important issues he supported at that time included the [[nationalization]] of the [[oil industry]], permission to conduct petroleum test boring outside [[Northern Norway]], and that the state should use income from the petroleum industry to nationalise domestic industry.<ref>{{Cite news|title=– Vi er ikke noe haleheng |work=[[Verdens Gang]] |date=23 February 1977 |last=Malmø|first=Morten |language=no}}</ref>

From 1981, he worked as a secretary for the Labour Party; he became acting general secretary in 1986 and was formally appointed to the position in 1987. In his role as secretary of the Labour party, Jagland initiated a number of measures that culminated in organisational and political reforms. The right of the Trade Unions to influence the working of the Labour Party was curtailed; periodic consultations were initiated with civil society outside the party boundaries in the formulation of the party manifesto etc.  In 1986, he also became chairman of the Labour Party's International Committee. He held both positions until 1992, when he succeeded long-time leader [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]].<ref name=bio/>

Jagland was elected to the [[Storting|Norwegian Parliament]] from [[Buskerud]] in 1993, and was re-elected on three occasions. During his first term, Jagland was a member of the [[Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs]], and also served as the fractional leader for the parliamentary group of the party.<ref name=bio/> In 1995, Jagland published a book, titled ''Brev'' (''Letters''),  "Vår sårbare verden" (Our vulnerable World) i 2001 and "Ti teser om EU og Norge" (Ten Postulates about the EU & Norway) in 2003.

===Premiership===
{{Main|Premiership of Thorbjørn Jagland}}
On 23 October 1996, [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] informed Jagland she was withdrawing from politics and leaving him as head of government. The [[third cabinet Brundtland]] resigned, prompting the party leader Jagland to form a new cabinet.

[[Premiership of Thorbjørn Jagland|Jagland's cabinet]] was short-lived with two ministers being forced to withdraw.<ref name="norwegianhouse"/><ref name="nettavisen"/> He resigned following the [[1997 Norwegian parliamentary election|1997 election]] even though his party won the most votes. Jagland was widely perceived to have been passed over when Jens Stoltenberg formed his second cabinet in 2005.<ref name="dagbladet.no">{{cite web|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/10/13/446178.html|title=- Helt og holdent opp til Jens å velge utenriksminister|website=Dagbladet.no|date=13 October 2005 |access-date=7 August 2018|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222210/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/10/13/446178.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jagland launched his vision of the "Norwegian House" during his tenure as Prime Minister. In his speech to the Storting following his appointment, Jagland described the Norwegian House as a foundation with four pillars. The metaphor represented, "the collective value creation within the ecologically sustainable society". The four pillars that hold up the house were business and labour policy; welfare policy; research and educational policy; and foreign and security policy. Jagland stated that everyone had something to contribute regarding the creation of the house; in particular he stated that the cabinet would cooperate with the opposition to reach these goals. In his speech, Jagland said that he would not deviate much from Harlem Brundtland's policies, but that he would increase the focus on violence, abuse of alcohol and drugs, and crime, including improvement of preventative measures and the [[courts of justice of Norway|courts]]. He also stated that it was important to introduce information technology in all parts of the education system. As part of the construction of the Norwegian House, the cabinet also started to appoint lay councils, with expertise within their fields, that would provide them with feedback and inputs on important areas in society. Jagland stated that the purpose was to allow critical voices close access to the political decisions, and increase the number of ideas generated at a political level.<ref name="rad">{{Cite news |first=Width |last=Henrik |title=Oppretter nye råd |url=http://tux1.aftenposten.no/nyheter/forste/s9127.htm |work=Aftenposten |date=29 October 1996 |language=no |access-date=21 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418054253/http://tux1.aftenposten.no/nyheter/forste/s9127.htm |archive-date=18 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Jagland stated in August 2008 that, "the Norwegian House could have been better planned and prepared, but I did not have the time. I took a chance. The Labour Party was down for the count. My goal was to make a good election; and we did. We have not done so well since".<ref name=norwegianhouseIII>{{Cite news |first=Robert |last=Gjerde |author2=Halvor Hegtun |author3=Asbjørn Bakke |title="Det norske hus" kunne ha vært bedre planlagt |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2678374.ece |work=Aftenposten |date=27 September 2008 |language=no |access-date=31 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927123640/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2678374.ece |archive-date=27 September 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Jagland said in an interview, "I still get letters from people who miss the Norwegian House. It was an attempt at something new, a building project that would also inspire the activity on the side of the parties".<ref name=norwegianhouse/>

====Jagland's 36.9 ultimatum and resignation====
Ahead of the [[1997 Norwegian parliamentary election|1997 parliamentary election]], Jagland announced the cabinet would resign if the Labour Party received less than [[36.9 ultimatum|36.9% of the popular vote]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Herbjørn |last=Sørebø |author-link=Herbjørn Sørebø |title=Ikkje noko mediemord |url=http://www.dagogtid.no/arkiv/2000/07/herb.html |work=Dag og Tid |date=17 February 2000 |language=no |access-date=31 March 2008 |archive-date=30 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.dagogtid.no/arkiv/2000/07/herb.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> This was the percentage of the vote that the party had received in the [[1993 Norwegian parliamentary election|1993 election]] while Brundtland was still leading, which had provided them with an unclear mandate to govern.<ref name=nordby>{{Cite book|last=Nordby|first=Trond|author-link=Trond Nordby|title=I politikkens sentrum. Variasjoner i Stortingets makt 1814–2004|publisher=Universitetsforlaget|location=Oslo|year=2004|edition=2nd|pages=102–103|isbn=82-15-00651-5|language=no}}</ref> The [[Constitution of Norway]] does not require a cabinet to be formally approved by Parliament in order to serve, and a minority government that lacks concrete support from its inception may serve as long as it does not receive a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of no confidence]].

The Labour cabinet was only directly supported by its own party group, which consisted of 67 out of 165 members of Parliament.<ref name=nordby152>Nordby, 2004: p. 152</ref> To pass legislation, the cabinet had sought support from the largest opposition parties—the [[Centre Party (Norway)|Centre Party]] as well as Labour's traditional adversary, the [[Conservative Party of Norway|Conservative Party]]—on a case-by-case basis. Brundtland had already employed this ad-hoc tactic during her time as Prime Minister, describing it as "[[Slalom skiing|slalom]] racing in the Storting".<ref name=nordby/> However, the negotiations in order to land the annual [[state budget]] in 1996 were particularly tough.<ref name=nordby152/> According to political scientist [[Trond Nordby]], Jagland felt that a cabinet which achieved less than 36.9% would struggle to govern.<ref name=nordby149>Nordby, 2004: p. 149</ref>

As it turned out, Labour only received 35.0%, remaining the largest party with a small loss of seats. Jagland resigned on 29 September 1997 and power was given to the [[Kjell Magne Bondevik's first term as Prime Minister of Norway|first cabinet of Kjell Magne Bondevik]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Berit |last=Almendingen |title=Meddelelse fra statsminister Thorbjørn Jagland om Regjeringens avskjedssøknad |url=http://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Saker/Sak/?p=1921 |work=Nettavisen |date=29 September 1997 |language=no |access-date=1 February 2009 |archive-date=16 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416195609/http://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Saker/Sak/?p=1921 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Mary Williams |last=Walsh |title=Norway's Problem: Too Much Cash – Oil Is Flowing And Surplus Is Fat |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19971016/2566475/norways-problem-too-much-cash |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=16 October 1997 |access-date=2 February 2009 |archive-date=7 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907230554/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19971016&slug=2566475 |url-status=live }}</ref> This cabinet had an even weaker parliamentary basis.<ref name=nordby152/><ref name=nordby149/> [[Erik Solheim]], the leader of [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left Party]] (SV), said that if Jagland resigned, "he would go down in history as Norway's most puzzling politician".<ref name=nytimes>{{Cite news |title=Norway Chief Steps Down As Votes Fall Short of Goal |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E0D91438F935A2575AC0A961958260 |work=The New York Times |date=16 September 1997 |access-date=9 February 2009 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528110311/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/16/world/norway-chief-steps-down-as-votes-fall-short-of-goal.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Minister of Foreign Affairs===
In February 2000, still reeling from the 36.9 fiasco and the growing popularity of deputy party leader Stoltenberg, Jagland withdraw as a prime minister candidate. Speaking to the national council of Labour on 10 February 2000, Jagland said "If I were to continue as prime minister candidate, and especially if I should return as prime minister, the pressure that has been put against me the last three years will only continue and increase in strength."<ref>{{cite news|title=Thorbjørn Jaglands tale|url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/arbeiderpartiet/thorbjoern-jaglands-tale/a/4242366/|publisher=VG|date=2000-02-10|access-date=2017-10-19|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019220136/https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/arbeiderpartiet/thorbjoern-jaglands-tale/a/4242366/|url-status=live}}</ref> Only 35 days later, the [[Kjell Magne Bondevik's first term as Prime Minister of Norway|first cabinet of Bondevik]] resigned following a [[motion of confidence]]. A new [[Jens Stoltenberg's first term as Prime Minister of Norway|Labour cabinet]], to be led by Jens Stoltenberg, was announced by [[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V]] on 17 March 2000.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Norway's new cabinet named |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/680950.stm |work=BBC |date=17 March 2000 |access-date=1 February 2009 |archive-date=20 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420211441/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/680950.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Jagland was chosen for [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]].

One of his first acts as Minister of Foreign Affairs was to visit Belgrade, three years before its collapse. Jagland wanted to improve [[foreign aid]] to Yugoslavia and try to find a peaceful solution to the [[Yugoslav wars]]. Jagland engineered financial and material support to the forces in Yugoslavia who were opposed to Slobodan Milosevic, a move that increased the popularity of the opposition to Milosevic and his eventual fall from power. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs furnished computers that helped in revealing the electoral fraud perpetrated by Milosevic. The Norwegian contribution was instrumental in the overthrow of the Milosevic government and Jagland was the first to be invited to the victory celebrations.

Jagland again made national headlines in a similar fashion to the publicity about "The Norwegian House" and "36.9%", this time for the phrase "Bongo from Congo", which Jagland used when referring to [[Omar Bongo]], the President of Gabon, when he was visiting Norway. Jagland stated on 2 February 2001 on the nationally broadcast television show ''[[:no:I kveld med Per Ståle|I kveld med Per Ståle]]'' on [[TV 2 (Norway)|TV 2]] that "everybody at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs went around saying that 'now you are going to meet with Bongo from Congo{{'"}}.<ref name="vg.no"/> The term "Bongo" and "Congo" has been seen by many as a [[racial slur]].<ref name=norwegianhouse/>

Jagland visited Sri Lanka in June 2001 to try to reach a level of involvement in the Sri Lankan Civil War. After a brief visit to the capital Colombo, at the request of the Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga, Jagland agreed to take a role in the peace process of Sri Lanka between the Sri Lankan Government and the Tamil Tigers.[29] 
 
The Labour Party did not fare well during the [[2001 Norwegian parliamentary election|2001 election]]. In an interview with the ''[[Associated Press]]'', Jagland said, "It is unstable and unpredictable".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Norway set for close polls result|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/10/norway.ballot/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=10 September 2001|access-date=2 February 2009|archive-date=14 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014112310/http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/10/norway.ballot/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After the votes had been counted, Stoltenberg and his cabinet was forced to resign, suffering from its worst election campaign results since 1924.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Norway poll sparks power struggle |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1536377.stm |work=BBC |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=1 February 2009 |archive-date=20 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420211443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1536377.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Jagland stepped down in 2001 from his post as Foreign Minister in the wake of the collapse of the Stoltenberg government.

The leadership battle of the party didn't end with the election, and pressure was still mounting on Jagland to give the party leader role to Stoltenberg. It was expected that Stoltenberg would contest the leader during the national congress of Labour in November 2002, and in January 2002 the two were supposed to say if they wanted role. On 15 January, Jagland collapsed in the parliament and was sent to the hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/arbeiderpartiet/jagland-til-sykehus/a/9695370/|title=Jagland til sykehus|website=Vg.no|date=15 January 2002 |access-date=7 August 2018|archive-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102045943/https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/arbeiderpartiet/jagland-til-sykehus/a/9695370/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that evening, during live coverage by [[TV 2 Nyhetene]], comedian [[Bård Tufte Johansen]] interrupted the live broadcast jumping around in a chicken costume, cackling about media's treatment of Thorbjørn Jagland and mocking the media's [[double standards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tv.nrk.no/serie/aapen-post/FUHA02003201/16-01-2002 |title=NRK - Åpen post |publisher=Nrk.no |access-date=2009-02-14 |archive-date=30 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530221815/http://tv.nrk.no/serie/aapen-post/FUHA02003201/16-01-2002 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lErBLh1DXEY|title=Bårds kyllingstunt på TV2 Nyhetene|date=6 August 2006|website=Youtube.com|access-date=7 August 2018|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101195255/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lErBLh1DXEY&feature=youtu.be|url-status=live}}</ref> On 3 February 2002, Jagland announced that he wouldn't seek a new term as party leader in November.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/jagland-gar-av-som-partileder-til-hosten-1.504125|title=Jagland går av som partileder til høsten|website=Nrk.no|date=3 February 2002 |access-date=7 August 2018|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528110349/https://www.nrk.no/norge/jagland-gar-av-som-partileder-til-hosten-1.504125|url-status=live}}</ref>

===President of the Storting===
In 2005, Jagland was reelected to a fourth term in the Norwegian Parliament. [[Jørgen Kosmo]], the previous [[President of the Storting]], had not stood for parliamentary re-election, and Jagland was elected to this position by the members of parliament on 10 October 2005. Jagland was elected with only one blank vote, whereas his [[Progress Party (Norway)|Progress Party]] opponent, [[Carl I. Hagen]], had 25 blank votes in the Storting. He later said:<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Norwegian News Agency|title=Jagland ny stortingspresident|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article1131489.ece|date=10 October 2005|language=no|access-date=5 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416090648/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article1131489.ece|archive-date=16 April 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

{{cquote|This is a completely new era for me. I shall lead the work of the parliament, so that it goes smoothly on rails. Also, I represent the Parliament, both in Norway and abroad.}}

Jagland told the newspaper ''[[Aftenposten]]'' he wanted more [[Norwegian Army|Norwegian soldiers]] sent to [[Afghanistan|South Afghanistan]]: "The Norwegian special forces will certainly be welcome throughout the winter. If [[NATO]] is demanding them, Norway should contribute". In 2007, Stoltenberg allowed Jagland to push through his plan to develop Storting as a stronger centre for current political debates, thus increasing the power of the parliamentary members on issues from the cabinet.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Gunnar |last=Magnus |title=Kjappere, kvikkere og tøffere på Tinget |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2069424.ece |work=Aftenposten |date=27 October 2005 |language=no |access-date=5 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416094143/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2069424.ece |archive-date=16 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

A UN conference against racism and discrimination in [[Geneva]] was planned for the spring of 2009. Some member states, such as Canada and [[Israel]], had announced that they might [[boycott]] the conference because previous such conferences had given way to [[anti-Semitism]] and racism.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Boycott UN forum, says Israeli ex-envoy |url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/boycott-un-forum-says-israeli-exenvoy-20090215-884f.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=16 February 2009 |access-date=22 February 2009 |first=Jason |last=Koutsoukis |archive-date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218140407/http://www.smh.com.au/world/boycott-un-forum-says-israeli-exenvoy-20090215-884f.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Jagland said Norway was unlikely to undertake any boycott, but he added, "The previous racism conference in [[Durban]], South Africa, in 2001, was a festival in the criticism of Western values. We must never allow the successor conference in Geneva in April next year to be a repetition of this".<ref>{{Cite news |first=Halvor |last=Tjønn |title=FN-organer fiender av ytringsfriheten |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2746675.ece |work=Aftenposten |date=1 November 2008 |language=no |access-date=5 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209014021/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2746675.ece |archive-date=9 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2009, the cabinet issued a proposal to remove the "Blasphemy Paragraph", part of the criminal law that made [[blasphemy|blasphemous statements]] a criminal offense. There was a political consensus in parliament that the paragraph was outdated. The cabinet proposed that it instead by replaced by a "Racism Paragraph", that was aimed at protecting religious groups from attacks, while retaining protection of the academic freedom of speech. All political parties in parliament, except the [[Centre Party (Norway)|Centre Party]], were opposed to the "Racism Paragraph", but Centre-leader [[Liv Signe Navarsete]] stated that she had used her influence to make the Labour Party accept the matter.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Anders |last=Hedeman |title=Et nederlag for Navarsete |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2906078.ece |work=Aftenposten |date=4 February 2009 |language=no |access-date=5 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205082619/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2906078.ece |archive-date=5 February 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> When asked about the case, Jagland responded: "It will in itself be a paradox if one questions the principle that [[freedom of speech]] is subject to the party whip. Especially when it emerges that the question may have been the subject of horse-trading and attempts at a coup".<ref>{{Cite news|first=Robert|last=Gjerde|author2=Thomas Spence|title=Stoltenberg kan ikke binde stortingsgruppen|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2903446.ece|work=Aftenposten|date=2 February 2009|language=no|access-date=5 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206032915/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2903446.ece|archive-date=6 February 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Jagland had also been critical of the lack of parliamentary control permitted by the [[Red-Green Coalition (Norway)|coalition cabinet]]. Critics accused Jagland of attacking the Red-Green Cabinet as revenge against Stoltenberg for forcing Jagland to resign as Labour Party leader in 2002. Jagland rejected this as "petty criticism". Jagland announced in September 2008 that he would not seek reelection. He said he decided, with "great sadness", to leave Norwegian politics because he was applying for the position of [[Secretary-General of the Council of Europe]].<ref>{{Cite news|first=Halvor|last=Hegtun|author2=Heidi Ertzeid|author3=Camilla Ryste|title=Jagland: – En av de gjeveste jobbene|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2670340.ece|work=Aftenposten|date=23 September 2008|language=no|access-date=5 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416085058/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2670340.ece|archive-date=16 April 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Nobel Committee===
[[File:Jagland and Obama.jpg|thumb|Jagland with president [[Barack Obama]] during the [[2009 Nobel Peace Prize]] ceremony]]

On 1 January 2009, he succeeded [[Ole Danbolt Mjøs]] as the chairman of the [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2803856.ece|agency=Norwegian News Agency|title=Jagland blir leder av Nobelkomiteen|date=3 December 2008|language=no|access-date=12 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203235734/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2803856.ece|archive-date=3 December 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.norwaypost.no/content/view/21693/1/|agency=[[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]]|title=Jagland new leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee|date=27 February 2009|access-date=27 February 2009|archive-date=12 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012190720/http://www.norwaypost.no/content/view/21693/1/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Norwegian Nobel Committee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nobelpeaceprize.org/|title=Home - Nobels fredspris|website=Nobelpeaceprize.org|access-date=17 September 2013|archive-date=9 November 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001109184000/http://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> is tasked with selecting candidates for award of the annual Nobel Prize for Peace in accordance with the last will and testament of Alfred Bernhard Nobel (1833-1896), the Swedish chemist and inventor of dynamite.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/will/will-full.html|title=Full text of Alfred Nobel's Will|website=Nobelpeaceprize.org|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-date=15 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815060015/https://www.nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/will/will-full.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Norwegian Parliament selects a committee consisting of 5 persons who then choose the candidates for the prize. This committee is completely independent of the Norwegian Parliament or other institutions, domestic or foreign.

The Nobel Committee announces the winning candidate(s) on the first Friday of each October; prizes themselves are handed out on 10 December in Oslo, that date being the birthday of Alfred Nobel.

The announcement of [[Barack Obama]] as winner of the [[2009 Nobel Peace Prize]], raised a few eyebrows and Jagland had to clarify<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/magazine/25fob-q4-t.html|title=Peace Be With You|date=25 October 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=25 February 2017|archive-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429170810/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/magazine/25fob-q4-t.html|url-status=live}}</ref> this choice on several occasions. The Nobel Committee points to the fact that it has to execute the will of Alfred Nobel, in accordance with the following text in his will:

"...The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way...the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the '''preceding year''', shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind... and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses....The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiological or medical work by the Caroline Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration whatever shall be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be a Scandinavian or not..."

The justification for award to Barack Obama was anchored in the work he had done to restart the START agreements with Russia and for promotion of dialogue with the Muslim world.

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 was awarded to the European Union for "....have for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/laureates/laureates-2012/|title=Nobel Peace Prize 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022105643/http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/laureates/laureates-2012/|archive-date=22 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 was awarded to the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons OPCW<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opcw.org/|title=Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|website=Opcw.org|access-date=23 October 2013|archive-date=28 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528232128/https://www.opcw.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> for "...its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2013/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2013|website=Nobelpeaceprize.org|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613101621/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2013/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 was shared between Pakistani national [[Malala Yousafzai]] and Indian activist [[Kailash Satyarthi]]. The prize motivation states: "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2014/satyarthi-facts.html|title=Kailash Satyarthi - Facts|website=Nobelpeaceprize.org|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-date=20 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620151537/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2014/satyarthi-facts.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 March 2015 Jagland was demoted by the five-person Norwegian Nobel Committee, which elected [[Kaci Kullmann Five]] as its new chair. Jagland's demotion is without precedent in the history of the Nobel Peace Prize. After the demotion, Jagland continued to serve as an ordinary member of the committee.

In 2019 [[Berit Reiss-Andersen|the leader of the committee]] asked each of the members if any of them had been in contact with [[Jeffrey Epstein]]; in 2020 Jagland changed his answer; [[Jeffrey Epstein]] and [[Bill Gates]] had a meeting with Jagland at his residence in [[Strasbourg]] in 2013, according to media in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/OQnGyE/dn-thorbjoern-jagland-bekrefter-aa-vaert-paa-moete-med-epstein |title=DN: Thorbjørn Jagland bekrefter å vært på møte med Epstein |date=2 October 2020 |access-date=2 October 2020 |archive-date=2 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002193547/https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/OQnGyE/dn-thorbjoern-jagland-bekrefter-aa-vaert-paa-moete-med-epstein |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dn.no/magasinet/thorbjorn-jagland/jeffrey-epstein/bill-gates/thorbjorn-jagland-tok-imot-jeffrey-epstein-og-bill-gates-i-sin-strasbourg-residens/2-1-885799 |title=Thorbjørn Jagland tok imot Jeffrey Epstein og Bill Gates i sin Strasbourg-residens (DN+) &#124; DN |access-date=2 October 2020 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528110350/https://www.dn.no/magasinet/dokumentar/thorbjorn-jagland/jeffrey-epstein/bill-gates/thorbjorn-jagland-tok-imot-jeffrey-epstein-og-bill-gates-i-sin-strasbourg-residens/2-1-885799 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Secretary General of the Council of Europe: First term, from 2009 to 2014 ===
{{BLP sources section|date=May 2014}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Thorbjørn Jagland greets Francois Hollande.jpg|thumb|right|Thorbjørn Jagland greets François Hollande, President of France]] -->
In 2009, Jagland was elected [[Secretary General of the Council of Europe]]. Jagland was elected with 165 against 80 votes in the [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|Parliamentary Assembly]]. The other candidate was former Prime Minister of Poland [[Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz]].<ref>[http://en.ria.ru/world/20090929/156292915.html Norway's ex-premier elected as Council of Europe head] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514221141/http://en.ria.ru/world/20090929/156292915.html |date=14 May 2014 }} RIA Novosti. 29 September 2009.</ref>

Jagland has emphasized the importance of strengthening the cooperation with the European Union and regular consultations are taking place with the leaders of the EU. The process of EU accession to the European Convention was meant to be ratified by 2015, but as of July 2017, no new accession agreement had been drafted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/607298/EPRS_BRI(2017)607298_EN.pdf|title=EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)|date=July 2017|website=European Parliament|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=12 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012175441/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/607298/EPRS_BRI(2017)607298_EN.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Jagland signed an intention agreement with Commissioner Stefan Füle in April 2014, which will considerably increase the number of Joint Programmes and EU financing of projects implemented by the Council of Europe. Jagland has also taken the initiative to a Neighbourhood Policy which includes an important number of cooperation activities on the basis of Council of Europe standards with Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco and Kazakhstan.

Jagland's has initiated regular consultations with the United Nations and these have since become institutionalised within the Council of Europe.

In 2012, Jagland launched the [[World Forum for Democracy]] conferences at the Council of Europe. The annual conference brings together statesmen, NGOs, grassroots workers, academics, politicians and others and was inaugurated in 2012 by the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban ki Moon.

In April 2014, under Jagland's watch, the Council of Europe released its seminal report "State of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Europe".<ref name=sod>[http://hub.coe.int/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=5df90407-7663-4361-b5fb-1bbcc84c9fa0&groupId=10227 State of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420084451/http://hub.coe.int/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=5df90407-7663-4361-b5fb-1bbcc84c9fa0&groupId=10227 |date=20 April 2014 }} Council of Europe. Retrieved 14 May 2014</ref> The report constituted the first consolidated analysis of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe, based on the findings of the Council of Europe's monitoring bodies.{{Citation needed|date=May 2014}} In the preface to the report, Jagland wrote:<ref name=sod/>

''"Human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe now face a crisis unprecedented since the end of the Cold War. Serious violations – including corruption, immunity from prosecution, impunity, human trafficking, racism, hate speech and discrimination – are on the rise throughout the continent. People's rights are also threatened by the impact of the economic crisis and growing inequalities. The Council of Europe and its member States must act urgently to stop this erosion of fundamental rights..."''

=== Secretary General of the Council of Europe: Second term, from 2014 to 2019===
[[File:Sánchez Estrasburgo feb2019 01.jpg|thumb|Jagland meets with Spanish Prime Minister [[Pedro Sánchez]] in Strasbourg, 7 February 2019]]
On 24 June 2014, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe convened to elect the Secretary General for the term running from 2014 to 2019. Thorbjørn Jagland had expressed his intentions of continuing on for a second term and was one of the two candidates competing for the post. Jagland was opposed by Ms Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/jagland-re-elected-head-of-council-of-europe/|title=Jagland re-elected head of Council of Europe|date=2014-06-25|work=POLITICO|access-date=2018-10-12|language=en-US|archive-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919171802/https://www.politico.eu/article/jagland-re-elected-head-of-council-of-europe/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the voting conducted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), of the 252 members voting, Jagland won 156. Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger obtained 93.  There were 3 blank ballots. With the requirement for an absolute majority being 125, Jagland's tally of 156 gave him a comfortable absolute majority.  Jagland formally commenced his next term from 1 October 2014.<ref name="website-pace.net"/><ref name=":0" />

Jagland's re-election as Secretary General of the Council of Europe is without precedent. Several outgoing Secretaries General had stood for re-election without having been successful. His wide margin of victory is seen as a sign of approval and appreciation of his yeoman services to both the Council of Europe and his unstinting efforts to reduce tensions in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2014/06/24/nyheter/europaradet/jagland/utenriks/samfunn/34010882/|title=Jagland seiret i Strasbourg|author=Morten Strand|work=Dagbladet.no|date=24 June 2014 |access-date=24 June 2014|archive-date=27 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627041409/http://www.dagbladet.no/2014/06/24/nyheter/europaradet/jagland/utenriks/samfunn/34010882/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jagland was continually accused by Norwegian and foreign media of servility towards [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]'s [[Russia]] during his tenure. Russia was placed under voting sanctions following the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation of Crimea]] in 2014, but in 2019 Jagland spearheaded the effort to give the Russians their voting rights back. Council members and analysts have criticized Jagland for giving in to Russian "blackmail".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3cccaf92-d12c-11e7-b781-794ce08b24dc|title=Russia tests Council of Europe in push to regain vote|date=26 November 2017|website=Financial Times|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-date=27 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127094135/https://www.ft.com/content/3cccaf92-d12c-11e7-b781-794ce08b24dc|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://eu.boell.org/en/2018/02/21/classic-dilemma-russias-threat-withdraw-council-europe|title=A Classic Dilemma: Russia's Threat to Withdraw from the Council of Europe|work=Heinrich Böll Stiftung European Union|access-date=2018-10-12|language=en|archive-date=21 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021065905/https://eu.boell.org/en/2018/02/21/classic-dilemma-russias-threat-withdraw-council-europe|url-status=live}}</ref> 7 delegations left the council in protest of the decision to give Russia voting rights without ending the occupation of parts of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/7-delegations-quit-strasbourg-in-protest-as-russia-returns-to-pace.html|title=7 delegations quit Strasbourg in protest as Russia returns to PACE - KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice|date=27 June 2019|website=KyivPost|access-date=28 June 2019|archive-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020070014/https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/7-delegations-quit-strasbourg-in-protest-as-russia-returns-to-pace.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other positions===
He was vice-president of the [[Socialist International]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/breakingbordersberlin/speakers|title=speakers - Breaking Borders|website=Sites.google.com|access-date=16 July 2013|archive-date=15 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315114636/https://sites.google.com/site/breakingbordersberlin/speakers|url-status=live}}</ref> and was Chair of the Organisation's Board when [[Willy Brandt]] was president. Jagland also chaired its Middle East Committee for 10 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialistinternational.org/viewArticle.cfm?ArticleID=430&Search=jagland|title=Socialist International - Progressive Politics for a Fairer World|website=Socialistinternational.org|access-date=16 July 2013|archive-date=8 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808011951/http://www.socialistinternational.org/viewArticle.cfm?ArticleID=430&Search=jagland|url-status=live}}</ref> Furthermore, Jagland was one of five members of the Mitchell Committee<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/mepp/docs/mitchell_report_2001_en.pdf |title=Sharm El-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee Report |website=Eeas.europa.eu |access-date=2017-12-20 |archive-date=1 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201163408/https://eeas.europa.eu/mepp/docs/mitchell_report_2001_en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> appointed by President [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] and Secretary-General [[Kofi Annan]] to advise on how to end violence in the Middle East. Jagland is an Honorary Board member of the [[Peres Center for Peace]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peres-center.org/honorary_board|title=The Honorary Board|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194327/http://www.peres-center.org/honorary_board|archive-date=29 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and was chair of the Board of the [[Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights]] but left when he became Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. A survey in 2000 found that Jagland was second most influential in a list of the 50 most influential persons in Norway.<ref>[http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2001/12/24/302930.html Norges 50 mektigste] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307032436/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2001/12/24/302930.html |date=7 March 2016 }} Dagbladet, 24 December 2001. Retrieved 15 September 2013</ref>

Jagland has been member of the International Board of Governors at the [[Peres Center for Peace]] since 1997. He served as one of several vice presidents of the [[Socialist International]] from 1999 to 2008. From 2000 to 2006, he chaired the Socialist International Committee on the Middle East. He became chairman of the board of the [[Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights|Oslo Centre]] upon its establishment in 2006<ref name=bio/> but left in 2009 when he became chairman of the Norwegian Nobel committee.

==Political views==
Through his career in politics, Jagland was more to the left of his party.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} Jagland supported more of a traditional social democratic government, and was very skeptical of policies such as privatization of state-owned companies.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Jagland is in favour of Norwegian membership of the [[European Union]]. In 1990, he published the book ''Min europeiske drøm''<ref name=bio/> (''My European dream''). He proposed the [[European Union]] be awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]], and it was, by Jagland himself in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2766692.ece|title=SV frykter fredspris til EU|last=Spence|first=Thomas|date=13 November 2008|work=Aftenposten|language=no|access-date=12 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122015011/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2766692.ece|archive-date=22 November 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Since 1999, he has stated that the left wing in Norway does not use Socialist International enough.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Eiliv Frich |last=Flydal |title=- Jeg begynner å bli lei hele mannen |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/10/01/548785.html |work=Dagbladet |language=no |access-date=11 February 2009 |archive-date=16 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416021021/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/10/01/548785.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

He has outspokenly opposed the perceived presence of [[Islamophobia]] in Western societies.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Thorbjørn |last=Jagland |title=Islamofobi vårt nye spøkelse? |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/debatt/article1275326.ece |work=Aftenposten |date=12 April 2006 |language=no |access-date=31 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329045300/http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/debatt/article1275326.ece |archive-date=29 March 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He has also called fighting [[Islamic extremism]] an "unnecessary fight", "that would only lead to confrontation", and insisted that no [[Islamic extremism]] exists in Norway.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8008364.stm "Islam a political target in Norway"] , BBC News, 20 April 2009</ref>

==Bibliography==
*''Du skal eie det selv'' ["you yourself, must own it"] – 2020, autobiography.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg.no/rampelys/bok/i/Kyy8KG/omkamp-paa-overtid-bokanmeldelse-thorbjoern-jagland-du-skal-eie-det-selv |title=Omkamp på overtid! Bokanmeldelse: Thorbjørn Jagland: «Du skal EIE det selv» |date=28 October 2020 |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028235224/https://www.vg.no/rampelys/bok/i/Kyy8KG/omkamp-paa-overtid-bokanmeldelse-thorbjoern-jagland-du-skal-eie-det-selv |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/bildeserier/article1099175.ece Norway's Prime Ministers] – A pictorial with portraits of Norway's Prime Ministers (''Aftenposten'')

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[[Category:1950 births]]
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