• Tuesday, 02 July 2024

Norway switches defence ministers after sex scandal

Norway switches defence ministers after sex scandal
Norway appointed a new defence minister on Tuesday after the previous incumbent resigned in response to the fallout from his relationship with a much younger woman. Bjørn Arild Gram, formerly local authorities minister, is to take over after the resignation of Odd Roger Enoksen, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced. Sigbjørn Gjelsvik, a member of the Norwegian parliament, is to take Gram's position. Gram, Enoksen and Gjelsvik are all members of the agrarian Centre Party, the junior partner in the government headed by Støre's Labour Party. Enoksen, who was appointed defence minister in October last year, announced his resignation on Saturday after confirming a report in the Verdens Gang newspaper and acknowledging the relationship with the younger woman some years ago. When they met in 2005, he was 50 and she 18.