It was the heavyweight bout of the year. Stephen Colbert versus Erna Solberg. The comedian and host of American TV’s The Late Show against the Prime Minister of Norway.
And the winner was … girls’ education!
These unlikely opponents swapped blows in a light-hearted exchange this week. Here’s how the action unfolded.
Stephen is the host of the Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park on September
On August 17, Stephen makes this video for the Global Citizen website. At the one minute 30 mark, he explains why it is important to support funding for the Global Partnership for Education. He says giving girls equal access to education worldwide is “the right thing to do”.
Around the world, 31 million girls don’t go to primary school and 62 million miss out on secondary school – because of factors such as child marriage, child labour and discrimination. Achieving gender equality and empowering girls and women are among the new Sustainable Development Goals to be agreed by the United Nations in September. A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five and one additional year of schooling can increase a woman’s earn
Erna Solberg has been Prime Minister of Norway since and leader of the Conservative Party since She was born in Bergen in and has a degree in sociology, political science, statistics and economy from the University of Bergen. She entered Norwegian politics in as a Deputy Member of Bergen City Council; in , Solberg was elected to the Storting (Parliament), and has held her seat since then. Between and , Solberg served as the Leader of the national Conservative Women’s Association. Before becoming party leader she served as Minister of Local Government and Regional affairs (). Solberg also acted as Member of the Standing Committee on Health and Care Services Affairs, the Standing Committee on Foreign and Defence Affairs, and the Electoral Committee. The Norwegian Conservative Party advocates economic liberalism, the reduction of taxes, respect for individual rights, and defines itself as a “conservative party of progress”. It is the most outspokenly pro-European Union party in Norway, having supported the country’s EU membership during both referendums. Solberg views the EEA agreement as EU membership without the international influence, and argues that a new referendum on Norw
Erna Solberg (ˌæːɳɑ ˈsuːlˈbærɡ; born 24 February ) is a Norwegianpolitician. She has been leader of the Conservative Party since She was the 35th Prime Minister of Norway from until [2] Solberg lost her re-election in September , after the Conservative party lost many seats in the election.[3] Solberg is the leader of the Conservative Party [as of 's first quarter].[4] As of the end of February , two[5] political parties have Solberg as the main candidate to lead a coalition of parties after the elections (for parliament) in The parties are KrF and the Conservative Party. On November 7, , she gave answers to questions during a hearing by parliament's Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs.[6][7][8] On November 21, the committee asked 12 new questions.[9] The committee gave its report in late February [5][10][11] Previously (September ), media told about her husband having bought and sold
. .Erna Solberg
Controversy
[change | change source] criticism (against Solberg) by kontrollkomiteen, a committee of parliament
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