Oscar Torp

Oscar Fredrik Torp ( born June 7, 1893 in Hafslund, municipality Skjeberg, today Sarpsborg / Østfold, † May 1, 1958 in Oslo) was a Norwegian social democratic politician. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1951 to 1955 and chairman of the Norwegian Labour Party ( Det Norske Arbeiderparti ) By 1923 to 1945.

From 1934 to 1935 he was mayor of Oslo. In 1935, he was chief of staff in the Ministry of Defence and 1936 Defence Minister in the cabinet of Johan Nygaardsvold. In the years 1936-1939 he served as Minister for Social Affairs, from 1939 to 1942 as Minister of Finance. In 1942 he was re-appointed Minister of Defense, now in the Norwegian government in exile in London. After the war he initially continued his work as defense minister continued, but took over after the elections of 1945, the Office of the Minister of Transport, a position he held until 1948.

He was elected in 1936 for the first time to the Storting (parliament ), as a representative for Oslo. But as he held several ministerial posts, he took his seat in 1948 and was true floor leader of the Labour Party.

As Einar Gerhardsen, who also belonged to the Workers' Party, resigned in 1951, Torp became his successor. 1955 took over again Gerhardsen the office and Torp was President of the Parliament. He remained until his death in 1958 in this position.