On Thursday 9 January, Olemic Thommessen, President of the Storting and Chair of the Main Committee of the Bicentenary of the Norwegian Constitution, presented the official programme for the 2014 Bicentenary celebrations.

The Storting has overall responsibility for the celebrations to mark the Bicentenary of the Norwegian Constitution in 2014. The main committee’s official programme was launched in the Storting on Thursday 9 January.

Speech by Mr Olemic Thommessen, President of the Storting, at the Nobel Banquette December 10 2013.

The Constitution, as laid down on 17 May 1814 by the Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll and subsequently amended.

A new coalition Government between the Conservative Party (H) and the Progress Party (FrP), with Erna Solberg as Prime Minister, was appointed by His Majesty The King on Wednesday 16th October. The Government is due to put forward its programme declaration in a sitting of the Storting at 12.00 on Friday 18th October.

His Majesty the King normally performs the State Opening of the Storting on the first weekday after the Storting has constituted itself. This year the State Opening will take place on Wednesday 9 October.

On 11th June 2013 it will be exactly 100 years since women were granted the right to vote, almost a century after men received the same rights. The centenary committee, which has met regularly since early 2010, is responsible for the Government’s official centenary celebration programme.