- Of course, I would like Jens Stoltenberg to become our next central bank governor, but we are in the middle of a dramatic situation in Europe and I perfectly understand that his priority is to continue his important role in NATO - says Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum.

As soon as possible, the Minister of Finance will present to the king in the Council a recommendation to appoint Ida Wolden Bache as the president of the Central Bank for a six-year term.

- It has not been a long time since we completed the thorough recruitment process. Then Ida Wolden Bache was considered very competent for this position. She has already served as president of the central bank for several weeks and has fulfilled this function well. Norway has an excellent central bank governor in him - says the Minister of Finance.

The Ministry of Finance will soon start the process of hiring a new deputy governor of the central bank. This is the role Ida Wolden Bache had before she took over as president when Øystein Olsen resigned on March 1, 2022.

Background of the situation

Jens Stoltenberg was appointed president of the Central Bank on February 4, 2022. On October 1, he was due to step down as NATO secretary general and assume the position of president of the Central Bank around December 1 this year. Ida Wolden Bache was appointed interim president of the central bank between Øystein Olsen's resignation on March 1 and Stoltenberg's assumption of office.

Based on the security policy situation in Europe, NATO countries decided to extend Stoltenberg's position as Secretary General. Stoltenberg will therefore not assume the position of central bank governor.