Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Svalbard

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Svalbard.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: NA
Legal System: NA
Citizenship: see Norway
Executive Branch: chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991) head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since 8 June 2001) and Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since NA) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Head of State: King Harold V of Norway
Head of Government: Governor Odd Olsen Ingero
Cabinet: 1 October 2005
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National Holiday: NA
International Organization Participation: none

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Longyearbyen
Location: 78 13 N, 15 38 E
Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: the name in Norwegian means Longyear Town; the site was established by and named after John LONGYEAR, whose Arctic Coal Company began mining operations there in 1906

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

Premium ContentJoinORSign In