Norwegian Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol resigned today, becoming the second member to step down from the Norwegian government this year amidst allegations of academic theft. Kjerkol submitted her resignation a day after an investigation by Nord University in Bodø, northern Norway, where she completed her master's thesis in 2021. The investigation concluded that "there is a considerable amount of scientific misconduct in her master's thesis."
In a press conference, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated, "We have reached the conclusion that Ingvild should resign from her position as minister," adding that the investigation found the misconduct to be "deliberate." However, the minister denied these allegations, stating that she is a co-author and "did not intend to steal the work of others." During a joint press conference with the Prime Minister, she mentioned, "Although it is painful not to be believed, one must deal with the reality that (the university) has a different opinion."
The 48-year-old health minister has held her position since October 2021, when Gahr Støre introduced a coalition government formed by his Labour Party and the smaller Centre Party.
