Karita Bekkemellem was the Minister of Children and Families in Jens Stoltenberg's short-lived 2000-2001 cabinet, and also Minister of Children and Equality Affairs in the second cabinet Stoltenberg from 2005 to 2007. She is in her fifth period of representing the county of Møre og Romsdal. In the period from 2001 to 2005 she served as faction leader in the committee for church, education and research affairs.
