Norwegian Foreign Minister apologizes for conflict of interest over son's internship

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide issued a formal apology during a press conference on Wednesday regarding a conflict of interest. The issue arose after his son applied for a student internship at the Norwegian Embassy in Paris last September. While Eide initially believed that maintaining distance from the selection process was sufficient to ensure impartiality, he later admitted this was a procedural error. He stated that he should have formally notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the outset to ensure the matter was handled through the correct institutional channels. Following the public disclosure of the situation, the minister's son, who had already been selected for the role, decided to withdraw his application. Eide emphasized that the responsibility for the oversight lies solely with him and not with his son, who simply applied for a position he desired. The minister expressed personal regret that his son chose to step down from an opportunity he was excited about due to the controversy.