Norwegian Somalis have been one of the Labor Party’s and the left’s most loyal voter groups over several years, according to SSB. At the same time, the votes for the Labor Party have dropped dramatically over just one parliamentary election among Norwegian Somalis. At the general election in 2017, almost 70 per cent of all eligible Norwegian Somalis voted for the Labor Party. At the general election in 2021, the figure dropped to 29 per cent. This despite the fact that voter turnout among Norwegian Somalis has increased each year. In 2021, Somalia was the largest immigrant group in Norway with the right to vote, with almost 22,000 out of 43,000 people. – Expresses frustration Leader of Young Minorities Abdirahman Omar Moallim from Stavanger will point out that the organization is party neutral. Nevertheless, he confirms that there are discussions about the role of the Labor Party among Norwegian Somalis. – It is true that the Labor Party has had a strong position among one of Norway’s largest minority groups. Later it has been challenged by other parties, says Moallim to news. – Some of our members express a kind of frustration where they believe that the central Labor Party has not taken their challenges seriously. Although these figures are new, the tendencies have been there over time, he adds. Leader in Young Minorities Abdirahman Omar Moallim. Photo: Frida Ripland Moberg Points to lack of representation Norwegian Somali and board member of Norway’s largest mosque, Ahmed A. Aden, has been a faithful voter in the Labor Party for several years. But when asked if Aden had voted for the Labor Party today, he answers no. He believes that there is a large number of Norwegian Somalis who think the same. – With 43,000 in the Somali community, we make up a large group of voters and demand that our voice be heard clearly. We have challenges related to housing, social mobility and education that require the governing party to listen, says Aden. Tawfiiq Islamic Center is the largest mosque in Norway with almost 9,000 members, most of whom are Norwegian Somalis. Photo: Ketil Kern/news People think they are fleeing to SV After the general election in 2021, it was the first time a politician with an African background was elected to the Storting. Norwegian-Somali Marian Hussein (SV) was then elected as a permanent representative. This may have had an impact on Apsflukt voters among Norwegian Somalis, believes Tawfiiq member Aden. In 2019, Marian Hussein (SV) was the first Norwegian-Somali to speak from the floor of the Storting. Now she is a permanent representative of the Storting. Photo: Javad M. Parsa / NT – There are probably even more people who will vote SV, if nothing happens in the future. We feel that we are not heard at all, says Aden. – There is no shortage of people or knowledge with a Norwegian-Somali background. Then you become very disappointed, because you really believe in politics, but then the problem is that you are not represented, says Aden. Since the 90s, Somalis have stood firmly by the party in ups and downs. Now it seems that the Labor Party has failed the Norwegian Somalis, he believes. – We cannot rule out that the party will continue to fall like a stone if the party does not recognize that the recent period has been a betrayal, says Aden. Thinks it’s about politics. He believes it is rather today’s political challenges that are the reason for fewer votes. – We see that the challenges are lined up. High electricity prices, challenges on the school front and poor living conditions contribute to weakening the governing parties’ position among Norwegian Somalis. Labor Party warns: – Will not have lists based on background Mani Hussaini (Ap) led the Labor Party’s Minority Committee in 2021. He is critical of voting for people based on their background. Storting representative Mani Hussaini (Ap) is against people being elected into politics based on their background. Photo: Amalie Henden – I would strongly warn against making lists based on where people come from, and let that decide whether the policy is representative or not, says Hussaini. – I disagree with saying that a specific minority group must be on the list to be represented. The most important thing is that each individual municipality and city chooses candidates who will do a good job for the party, he adds. – Getting it wrong Norwegian-Somali and leader of the municipality’s Employment and Inclusion Committee in Kristiansand, Abdullahi Mohamed Alason (Ap), disagrees with the criticism. He believes that the Labor Party has more Norwegian-Somali members on boards, compared to other minorities. – Voters must feel that they are seen and heard. I do not think that more Norwegian-Somalis on the boards will solve everything. You don’t vote for the party because you look like or know someone, but because the politics and the people are good, says Alason.
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Voter flight among Norwegian Somalis in the Labor Party – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
