Åsmund Grøver Aukrust (born 28 February 1985) is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He is member of Parliament from Akershus county, first elected at the Norwegian parliament election in 2013. He was the deputy leader of the Workers' Youth League (AUF) from 2010 to 2014. He was also deputy member of the Parliament of Norway for the term 2009–2013.[1]
Aukrust was born in Bærum. He studied at the University of Oslo receiving a bachelor's degree in sociology. He currently resides in Oslo.[2]
He was elected to the Akershus county council in 2005.
He served as deputy leader of the Workers' Youth League from 2010 to 2014.[3] He originally ran for the leadership, but narrowly lost the vote to Eskil Pedersen in a closely contested race,[4] although the election committee overwhelmingly favored him.[5] On 25 April 2011, he was elected vice president of the International Union of Socialist Youth.[6] He was appointed as political advisor to the Minister of Culture Anniken Huitfeldt in November 2011.[7]
Aukrust was elected as a deputy member of the Storting in 2009, holding the position until 2013. He has also been active in campaigning against Norwegian membership in the European Union through the organization No to the EU. At the official unveiling ceremony of the new cabinet after the 2009 elections, Aukrust caused a stir when he suddenly appeared among the ministers.[8] Aukrust explained that he was merely trying to hand out flowers to the cabinet member who was opposed to EU membership.[9]
Ahead of the 2013 election the Labour Party announced that Aukrust was nominated for the fourth seat in Akershus county. Analysts considered the seat to be safe for the Labour Party.[10] He was subsequently elected to the seat. He was re-elected in 2017 and 2021.
On 23 March 2022, he and Lene Vågslid were appointed new deputy parliamentary leaders in the aftermath of Terje Aasland's appointment to the government.[11] When he and Vågsild were appointed to government in February 2025, the party chose Ingvild Kjerkol and Tuva Moflag as their successors.[12]
He nominated the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Nobel prize in 2024.[13]
Following the Centre Party's withdrawal from government, he was appointed minister of international development on 4 February 2025.[14]
A few weeks after taking office, Aukrust announced that the government would be increasing their spending on humanitarian aid by supporting a further six humanitarian aid organisations with 1.9 billion NOK. He argued that humanitarian aid was becoming more important and highlighted the importance of saving lives, alleviate suffering and safeguarding human dignity and rights.[15]