Kristin Halvorsen, 7 January 2009

Kristin Halvorsen (born 2 September 1960 in Horten, Vestfold) is a Norwegian socialist politician and has been the Minister of Finance since 17 October 2005 in Stoltenberg's second cabinet.

Taking over as leader of the Socialist Left Party in 1997, she established an unprecedented level of consensus within the party. The last few years have been marked by high polling numbers, but at the 2005 election, the party received a disappointing 8.8 percent, down almost 10 percent from the best polls. Many who describe themselves as being on the left side of the party have suggested that Halvorsen step down.