Jonas Gahr Støre review: The third-longest serving leader in history – and he's set for 2029

It's no secret that Jonas Gahr Støre has shaped Norwegian politics for two decades. But even seasoned political commentators have to do a double-take when they look at the calendar: Støre has just made history. On 19 January this year, he overtook both Jens Stoltenberg and Gro Harlem Brundtland in terms of time served as leader of the Labour Party. He's now third on the all-time list – only Oscar Torp (22 years) and Einar Gerhardsen (20 years) have served longer. It's a feat that deserves a proper Jonas Gahr Støre review.

A very different day job than in 2021

When Støre moved into the Prime Minister's residence in October 2021, much of the opposition painted a picture of a "soft" leader who would simply manage the nation's prosperity. Then reality hit. The war in Ukraine turned everything upside down, and suddenly the job was as much about NATO cooperation, security policy and emergency preparedness as it was about schools and healthcare. Støre himself has admitted that the role turned out to be "more serious and war-focused than I could have imagined". Yet he's still standing. That says a lot about where he's coming from.

For anyone wondering how to use Jonas Gahr Støre in a political analysis – the answer is actually pretty simple: He's a steady, patient force who rarely gets swept up in the daily news cycle. That irritates as many people as it impresses.

Three ministers out – and a clear apology

But let's not sugar-coat everything. The spring of 2023 was tough. When Anette Trettebergstuen had to step down as Minister of Culture and Equality due to a conflict-of-interest scandal, she became the third minister to leave the Støre government, after Hadia Tajik and Odd Roger Enoksen. At a press conference before the summer break, the Prime Minister was confronted: Shouldn't you have done more thorough background checks?

"I don't think background checks would have made a difference here. The reasons are quite different. What I will say is that I regret it," Støre told internal sources.

He added that people make mistakes – "we've made mistakes before, and we might be making mistakes now." And that sentence sums up the Jonas Gahr Støre guide to political leadership: He accepts the consequences, but he won't kick someone when they're already down. That's classic Støre.

Fosen, the Sámi, and unresolved conflicts

Still, it's not just internal government turmoil that has shaped the picture. Støre has also had to deal with one of the most contentious issues in recent memory: the Fosen conflict. When he recently visited Karasjok, the message from the activists was clear. Here are the three key points in the deadlocked situation:

• The youth branch of the Norwegian Sámi Association have warned of a new protest unless Støre comes up with concrete measures regarding the wind farm.
• Prominent figure Elle Nystad stressed that they are ready to resume demonstrations – again in Oslo if necessary.
• Støre has previously said he strongly disagrees with those demanding the wind turbines be torn down.

So things are at a standstill. For a prime minister who built his platform on "a fair Norway", Fosen is a reminder that fairness is rarely black and white.

2029: Norway's oldest prime minister in 100 years?

Despite the challenges, Støre has made one thing clear: He will stand as the Labour Party's prime ministerial candidate again in 2029. He recently confirmed this to political sources. If the party's national conference gives the green light, and he wins the election, he will be 69 years old.

"It's an age. But I believe my energy, health, capacity and pace are up to the job I have," Støre said.

That's a bold statement in a country that has historically had relatively young prime ministers. At the same time: Einar Gerhardsen was 68 when he stepped down for the final time. Age alone isn't necessarily a barrier – the real question is whether voters in 2029 will want a prime minister who has been in office for nearly a decade, or whether they'll be yearning for something new.

A review of the Støre years so far

If we're going to do a proper Jonas Gahr Støre review, we need to look at the big picture. He took over from Erna Solberg at a time when Norway needed calm. He has steered the country through a pandemic, an energy crisis, and a full-scale war on Europe's flank. At the same time, his government has lost three ministers over conflicts of interest, struggled with Fosen, and faced criticism over how it has handled its own finances (the dock-building saga at his holiday cabin still stings for some).

But the opinion polls – which all politicians swear by and simultaneously hate – show something else: Labour has climbed a bit, but is still not back to its old glory days numbers. So how should you use Jonas Gahr Støre going forward? The answer is perhaps exactly how he has always done it: calm, long-term, without too many sudden changes of direction.

Whether you agree with him or not – Støre isn't going to be swept aside any time soon. Now we'll have to see if his patience pays off at the next crossroads. 2029 is further away than many people think. But in Norwegian politics, four years is nothing – especially for a man who will soon have served longer than Gro.