– She has cancer with spread. I am endlessly happy with her and want to be there for her as best I can, says Bergstø to news. The SV leader has initially applied for leave from the Storting for two weeks, until the Christmas holidays. But it can be extended, she acknowledges. – All of us who have experience of cancer, either ourselves or in the family, know that it is a rather difficult and unpredictable situation to be in. Deputy representative Haitham El-Noush will take her place on the Akershus bench, while SV deputy leader Marian Hussein will take over party leadership tasks that Bergstø cannot solve. – She will do that in an excellent way, says Bergstø. SV deputy leader Marian Hussein will take over some of Bergstø’s tasks in the near future. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news Bad experiences Many Norwegian families have bad experiences with cancer. But for Kirsti Bergstø (43), the disease has also hit hard in the past. When she was 15, her father died of cancer. – I held his hand when he died. And what was nice in all the bad was that we got to talk together in a different way than you might otherwise do, says Bergstø. The SV leader will be at home in Nesseby with his mother for Christmas. Photo: Gunnar Bratthammer / news – When you get sick, there is a part that can become bitter and withdrawn. My father became very open. And it was good to be able to talk about the situation we were in, the time to come. And also about many things that you didn’t know you would later miss having a conversation about, says Bergstø. The SV leader says the mother gets good help from the hospital in Kirkenes and from her brother, who lives in Nesseby. The experiences of her father’s passing came into play when she chose to enter politics. – At the time, the infirmary in the local community was threatened with closure. Taking up the fight for it was important to both my father and my family. And even though he lost the battle against cancer, we won the battle for the hospital, says Bergstø. Got cancer herself 15 years after her father’s death, Kirsti Bergstø herself was diagnosed with cervical cancer. As a 30-year-old. – Yes, but it’s a nice story, because I got well. I had an operation and have not had a relapse since. And it also shows how far we have come with cancer treatment in our country, says Bergstø. – I was among the first to have exactly that type of fertility-preserving operation. Which made it possible to carry a child later, and I was lucky enough to experience that, she continues. – How have these life experiences influenced the decision you are making now? – One is to deal with the fact that the worst and the best in life can rarely be fully planned. And the second thing is that when a situation is serious, with the health of someone you love, then you never know what tomorrow will bring. So the only thing you can do is choose. Now I choose to leave work at the Storting and in the party, put it on pause and be present where it is most important until Christmas, she says. SPECULATION: Kirsti Bergstø meets news to avoid speculation about her upcoming absence from the Storting. Photo: Gunnar Bratthammer / news Wants to avoid speculation Bergstø says there are several reasons why she chooses to be open about the reason why she is away from the Storting in the intense period until Christmas, when a great many matters are being considered. – When I leave work here, it is because there are good reasons for it. I don’t want there to be speculation about other things, says the SV leader. Earlier this week, SV profile Kari Elisabeth Kaski returned to the Storting after calling in sick and internal conflicts in the party. At the same time, she asked to be relieved as fiscal spokesperson. – I have not had good working conditions, and therefore I have asked to change committees and step out of the group board, stated Kaski. – Has this contributed to your openness now? – No, I have been open with the group and the party all the way because they have had to understand that I might have to leave at short notice, says Bergstø and continues: – The party is teamwork. Then it is my task as party leader to make arrangements for everyone to experience good working conditions. Published 07.12.2024, at 19.43
ttn-69
