Stoltenberg's first tenure as Prime Minister (2000–2001) was controversial within his own party, being responsible for reforms and modernisation of the welfare state that included part-privatising several key state-owned services and corporations.
Stoltenbergs första tid som statsminister (2000–2001) var mycket kontroversiell, särskilt inom hans eget parti, som var ansvariga för reformer och moderniseringar av välfärdsstaten som inkluderade del-privatiseringar inom flertalet statligt ägda bolag.