Oslo  -  Veteran Norwegian politician Carl I Hagen said Wednesday he would not seek re-election to parliament in 2009, marking the end of three decades in public office.

Hagen, sometimes called "King Carl," soon turns 64.

In 2006, he stepped down as leader of the populist Progressive Party after a 28-year tenure as leader of the party that has at times been Norway's second largest, bested only by the Labour Party.

Hagen, deputy speaker in parliament, told reporters he planned to spend more time with his family and work on his cabin but was open for offers as a consultant or board member.

He said he would also consider a possible cabinet post should party leader Siv Jensen offer him that.

The party has to date never been included in a Norwegian government but on the eve of a party conference, Jensen has signalled that the Progressive Party may need to adopt an action plan that would offer it greater chances to be included in a future coalition.

In 2005, the party scored its best result with 37 seats in the 169-seat parliament, up 11 on the 2001 result.

The party's stance on immigration has often been criticized as xenophobic and contributed to former premier Kjell-Magne Bondevik's refusal to include Hagen in his minority coalition government.

When he stepped down as party leader, Hagen lauded the party's contributions to abolish the broadcasting monopoly as well as pushing for more flexible shop hours and introducing state-owned energy giant Statoil onto the Oslo stock exchange.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of the Labour Party said he would miss the lively debates with Hagen. (dpa)