Bjarne Håkon Hanssen

Bjarne Håkon Hanssen is a Norwegian politician of the Labour Party who served Minister of Health and Social Care Services from 2008-2009, Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion from 2005-2008 and Minister of Agriculture from 2000-2001. On 8 October 2009 Hansen announced that he would step down as a minister when Stoltenberg's reshuffled cabinet would be put together. As a minister he was both liked for his down to earth attitude, but also received much criticism for statements like “People on benefit must get up in the morning”. He was also member of Parliament from 1997-2009 and county mayor of Nord-Trøndelag from 1995 to 1997.