The election result gives Sture Pedersen and the Conservative Party 46.6 percent support. A decrease of over 10 percentage points from the last election. For a long time, the Conservative Party was expected to retain a clear majority in the “wealth tax municipality”, but the fine counting has led to the party going from 10 to 9 mandates. Thus Sture Pedersen has to negotiate with other parties. news has repeatedly tried to get in touch with Pedersen on Tuesday, but has not succeeded. The Progressive Party has supported the Conservative Party in the election campaign, and for many years has presented a joint list in the municipality. First candidate John Henrik Stephansen (Frp) confirms to news that they want to work with the Conservative Party to secure the majority. – We have been completely honest that any cooperation with the red parties will be out of the question. So we have given our consent to a collaboration with the Right. So we will have a meeting this afternoon, he says to news. The municipal council in Bø Bø has undefined seats in the municipal council. The spaces are distributed as follows: “Tax haven Bø” Bø municipality became nationally known after it decided to cut property tax. Which led to Bjørn Dæhlie, among others, announcing a move there, and then moving from the municipality a year later. Mayor Sture Pedersen has also tried to entice couples who want to have children with both money and a free nursery place. This summer, news broadcast the documentary “Det norske skatteparadiset”. A film that created strong reactions for the way the municipality was portrayed. Bø mayor Sture Pedersen said that there has been an inundation of phone calls, text messages and reactions after the film was shown. – People are disappointed by how dark and gloomy the municipality is portrayed. A statement is made that the municipality is depopulated. It is worrying and almost a little frightening, he told news. Sture Pedersen has been mayor in the municipality since 2007. Liberal Party: Satisfied with the fall of the Conservative Party Brith-Unni Willumsen is the mayoral candidate for the Liberal Party in the municipality. From having no representatives in the municipal council, they now have three mandates out of a possible 19. – It was surprising, and I make no secret of the fact that it was very gratifying. We are in with three, and are shocked to have such a high percentage (18.7). Brith-Unni Willumsen (V) in conversation with Conservative mayor Sture Pedersen in 2020. Photo: Lars-Bjørn Martinsen / news Willumsen has been critical of mayor Pedersen’s way of governing the municipality during the period they have had a clear majority. Therefore, there is a touch of schadenfreude when that majority seems to fall for Pedersen. – I am very pleased that the Conservative Party has come under 50 per cent. Personally, I expect a much greater humility from those who have the majority than what I have seen in the last four years. Historian: – Not surprised Steinar Aas is professor of modern Northern Norwegian history at Nord University. He is not surprised that the Conservative Party is now losing its majority in the municipality. – No, in a way not. He has received a lot of criticism, especially after the documentary that was shown on news recently. – In the documentary, he comes across as quite self-willed, and I think people have noticed that. It was perhaps not entirely fortunate that a mayor has such unrestricted power. The documentary did not give a favorable impression of how he governed. The fact that he has been decisive, Aas speculates. Steinar Aas is professor of history at Nord University. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news Now a different everyday life awaits the popular Conservative mayor. – Previously, they could do as they wanted. Now they have to somehow communicate with other parties before raising a case. It can be to the good, because you get to probe from case to case with other parties. The mayor fears that the village will die, and wants to turn Bø in Vesterålen into a Norwegian tax haven. But is it possible?
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Sture Pedersen lost the majority after fine counting – news Nordland
