Dag-Inge Ulstein

Local politics

Ulstein served as Bergen's city commissioner for social, housing and area investment from 2013 to 2014, when his party withdrew from the council cabinet, citing disagreements over a proposed route for the light rail to Åsane.^[2][3] When Harald Schjelderup became chief commissioner following the 2015 local elections, Ulstein was appointed city commissioner for finance. He held the post until he stepped down in 2018.^[4]

Parliament

Having been a deputy to the Storting for the Christian Democratic Party from Hordaland from 2017 to 2021, Ulstein was elected representative to the Storting for the period 2021–2025. In the Storting, he was a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence from 2021.^[5]

In June 2024, he announced that he wouldn't be seeking re-election at the 2025 election.^[6]

Minister of International Development

Following his party's negotiations to enter the Solberg cabinet, Ulstein was appointed minister of international development on 22 January 2019. This was despite the fact that he had supported the Labour favouring faction of the party in the path choice the year before.^[7]

Other

Ulstein is leading WHO's ACT-A Initiative (Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator). ACT-A is set up to lead the efforts to mobilize political and financial support to ensure equitable distribution of corona virus vaccines, medicines and tests. He is also a Board Member of the Global Center on Adaptation to address climate change.

He has previously held the position as head of development at Haraldsplass Diaconal Foundation, a specialised hospital. Prior to this position he was the general manager at Haraldsplass therapy and counselling center (2012–2014).^[8]

Ulstein was considered one of the most leading candidates to replace Kjell Ingolf Ropstad as party leader after the resigned following a parliamentary housing scandal. Ulstein never confirmed his candidacy, but still pulled himself out of consideration in October 2021, thereby leading to Olaug Bollestad being the presumptive new party leader.^[9] He was however open to become deputy leader.^[10]

Party deputy leader

Ulstein was designated as first deputy leader along with Bollestad as leader. At the party convention on 13 November, he won with 149 votes against Truls Olufsen-Mehus' 11.^[11] He was re-elected at the 2023 convention alongside Bollestad, with Ida Lindtveit Røse joining as second deputy leader.^[12]

He became acting party leader following Bollestad's resignation following a formal complaint made against her by parliamentary staffers over her leadership style and behaviour.^[13] He was floated as a possible successor to Bollestad, which he initially declined to be considered before later reversing his decision in September.^[14][15] The party's election committee officially designated him as leader in December, with Ida Lindtveit Røse as first deputy and Jorunn Gleditsch Lossius as second deputy leader.^[16]

Party leader

Ulstein, Røse and Lossius were formally elected at the extraordinary party convention on 25 January 2025.^[17]