Kjell Magne Bondevik –the former prime minister committed to peace and understanding
By Xander Brett
Norwegian former prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik (1997-2000 and 2001-2005). Photo: Berit Roald / NTB
You have plenty of possibilities as a former Scandinavian prime minister. You could pursue the paths of Jens Stoltenberg and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who served as NATO Secretary-General. Or perhaps, like Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Gro Harlem Brundtland, aim for top jobs in other organisations. Or maybe, like Carl Bildt, Thorbjørn Jagland and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, you will wait around, and, in time, be made foreign minister.
Kjell Magne Bondevik, who was Norway’s prime minister from 1997 to 2000, and again from 2001 to 2005, took none of those paths. Instead, he founded the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights. Two decades later, it continues its mission to spread democratic values and inter-religious tolerance worldwide.
“I could have gone abroad, either as an ambassador or as the leader of an international organisation, but my wife and I chose to stay in Norway,” says Bondevik. “Our grandchildren were growing up and we wanted to watch them develop. Instead of sitting at the top of a large organisation, I established a small, flexible centre. It was unusual for a former Norwegian politician, not least a prime minister, to start a foundation, but a colleague and I managed it.”
Diplomacy demands compromise – something Bondevik was well placed to broker at the Oslo Center, having led coalition governments in both of his terms as prime minister. The first featured his Christian Democratic Party and ministers from the Centre and Liberal parties. His second, after a few months of Labour rule, saw the Liberals return, this time joined by the Conservatives.
“In some countries, there’s an idea that the winner takes it all. If a certain party wins an election, they can shut out all opposition,” he explains. “Democracy, however, isn’t only about winning or losing elections, but about how you treat minorities, whether they’re ethnic, religious or political. Dialogue is equally important. We’ve two ears and only one mouth, so perhaps it’s a good idea to listen more than you speak. You don’t have to agree with the person you’re talking to, but to find compromise and create lasting solutions, you need to understand them.”
Kjell Magne Bondevik first took his seat in the Storting on 1 October 1973. Photo: dreamstime.com
A life in politics
Born in 1947, Bondevik grew up in Molde, a small city on Norway’s west coast. Thanks to family involvement, he received an early introduction to life in the Christian Democrats. After making waves in its youth wing, he took up a seat in the Storting, Norway’s parliament. Soon after, he accepted a stream of portfolios in the governments of Lars Korvald, Jan P Syse and Kåre Willoch. The Christian Democrats elevated Bondevik to the position of party leader in 1983.
Though his tenure as head of government might be best remembered for opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq – Norway refused to join President Bush’s ‘coalition of the willing’ – Bondevik’s premierships also coincided with the start of Vladamir Putin’s leadership in Russia.
“I saw Putin several times,” he says. “I felt that our first meetings were rather promising. He said that he was committed to democracy in Russia, and that he wanted to cooperate with the West. Of course, however, he has become more authoritarian. He and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Benjamin Netanyahu and Victor Orbán were all colleagues of mine 20 years ago. When you’ve been in power that long, you can start to believe that you’re the only person capable of ruling your country.”
Bondevik is honest when it comes to the dangers of expansionism. Presently, they seem posed not only by Putin, but also by the American president, who has mooted the idea of obtaining Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal.
“Trump’s rhetoric is a concern to Norway,” he confirms. “What we’re really afraid of is not only that he’ll reduce support for Ukraine, but also that he’ll reduce US military presence in Europe as a whole. We must convince him to stand behind Ukraine, to ensure that ceasefires and peace agreements are fair. Europe, meanwhile, must stand united. If Trump withdraws support for Ukraine, I hope Europe can step in with replacements.”
When Bondevik first took his seat in the Norwegian parliament, he represented Møre og Romsdal. Photo: dreamstime.com
The importance of a healthy mind
On a domestic front, Bondevik is proud to have shone a light on mental health provision, a topic close to his heart. He shocked his nation when he stepped aside for a few weeks during his first premiership, revealing that he was experiencing a bout of depression.
“It was big news, but I had to be honest about the diagnosis, and I hoped that by doing so I could dispel some of the stigma that exists around mental health,” he admits. “Looking back, I think I had depressive episodes earlier, though they weren’t as deep. When my psychiatrist analysed me, we found several reasons behind my struggles. One, possibly, was genetic. Another was that I might have been saying ‘yes’ to too many appointments in my first year as prime minister. The main reason, though, was that I’d lost three very close friends, and I didn’t take time to work through my grief.”
Time after the top job
After so long out of office, Bondevik is accustomed to life without the trappings of state. He admits, however, that readjusting to a civilian routine proved difficult at first.
“It was a shock to have been prime minister in the first place,” he laughs. “In 1997, it was only in the last ten days or so of campaigning that I thought taking power could be a possibility. When I left office for a second time, about eight years later, I was prepared for a more normal life. That said, I’d had bodyguards for years, and a car that took me from place to place. Suddenly I had to start driving myself again. Actually, I had a few small accidents as a result of that!”
Bondevik is on good terms with his successors, not least the aforementioned Stoltenberg, who made an unexpected return to Norwegian politics earlier this year. Through Club de Madrid (a forum for former world leaders), he also keeps in touch with fellow former world leaders. And while the former prime minister does not aspire to interfere in the work of his successors, he remains steadfast in his dedication to peace and understanding.
Members of the Club of Madrid, a forum of former world leaders, to the left Kjell Magne Bondevik. Photo: Mousse/ABACAPRESS.COM
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