eriksen, who belonged to rogaland, was never elected directly to the norwegian parliament but served as a deputy representative in the periods 1969–1973 and 1973–1977. during the first term he was brought in as a replacement representative for egil endresen, who became appointed to the cabinet in 1970. eriksen sat as a regular representative until march 1971, when the cabinet of which endresen was a part was dissolved, allowing him to return to his seat in parliament.