Around 80 politicians in municipalities and counties have resigned from their party after the election last year – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio

– It was tough. I’ve been pretty far down in the basement for a few months. And now I feel that I am about to get back into the ring. Kjetil Sangnes could have become the first Høgre mayor in Vestre Toten after 100 years of Labor Party rule. The election results point to a historic shift in the municipality. But it wasn’t supposed to go that way. Even before the election, there was an exchange of messages with a politician from the Center Party. Høgre did not want Sangnes as a mayoral candidate. He signed out of Høgre and was followed by three others. They became independent representatives and ended up in a pivotal position in the municipal council. And they used it well. Kjetil Sangnes resigned from Høgre and became deputy mayor in Vestre Toten municipality. Photo: Roar Berntsen / news From the Right to the Labor Party For Sangnes and the other three instead found themselves together with the Labor Party when the mayor was to be elected. He himself became deputy mayor. Thus, there was no change in Vestre Toten. And it had consequences that four politicians resigned from their party. – It has given us power. We are very humble about it. We get a central position, especially when the big things come up. The majority has no common political platform. We stand on our own two feet. I feel that the Labor Party respects that. There are many examples of local politicians resigning from their party. And there can be many reasons for this to happen. A review news has made of all municipalities in the country shows that around 80 of the elected politicians in the municipal council and the county council have resigned after the election last year. Some of these have joined a new party. In addition, they have close to 100 deputies and resign from their party. Cracked internally In Stranda municipality in Møre og Romsdal, Høgre and the Progressive Party came together in what was supposed to be a change of power after the election last year. The mayor got a seat, while Steinar Aanning from the FRP became deputy mayor. But the idyll was not to last long. There was an internal crack in the Frp. Three of the permanent representatives in the municipal council and four deputy representatives resign from the party. Steinar Aanning was one of those who opted out. He doesn’t want to dwell on what happened. But it’s about people. – Basically, it was unfortunate for everyone, and it was of course sad. But overall, we think it was necessary to do so. The deputy mayor in Stranda, Steinar Aanning, resigned from the Progress Party after an internal dispute. Photo: Trond Vestre / news Aanning continued as deputy mayor in Stranda. But what had been a majority in the municipal council was no longer a majority. – We just have to live with that. That’s how it is now. And then we have to take it case by case. I think it will go very smoothly. Trust Often there are no consequences for governance and management in a municipality if someone resigns from their party. But it could be decisive in the choice of who will rule. And that can lead to you no longer knowing what kind of majority you will get when the big issues come up. If voters have voted for a party because they want a certain policy, the situation can become demanding, says electoral researcher Bjarte Folkestad. – In the worst case, voters may feel cheated and lose confidence in the system. Electoral researcher Bjarte Folkestad at the University of Volda says it can be demanding when politicians resign from their party. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news The election researcher thinks the number of politicians withdrawing since the election a year ago is high. But he reminds us that people don’t just vote for political parties, but for people. This means that politicians who resign from their party because they want to be true to their positions on important issues can gain respect among voters. – It is important to remember that voters can be enraged by having politicians who vote in line with their own beliefs. Life goes on Steinar Aanning in Stranda has put the fight in the Progress Party behind him. The deputy mayor has several irons in the fire. Behind the levers on the excavator he uses to plan roads, he registers that life as a politician goes on. – We have good cooperation with Høgre and with other parties and. We depend on everyone pulling the load. It is our damned duty to cooperate, and we shall make it happen. Steinar Aanning believes it is important to have good cooperation in the municipal council in Stranda. Photo: Trond Vestre / news Published 17.09.2024, at 08.50



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