The question of whether the disbanded county councils should each have their own state administrator has become a headache for the government. The conclusion is long overdue, and the frustration has long since spread internally within the governing parties. In Viken and in Vestfold and Telemark, the municipal minister receives a clear message from his own: – There will be a split of the state administration office in Vestfold and Telemark, says a confident Åslaug Sem-Jacobsen (Sp). OPTIMIST: Storting representative Åslaug Sem-Jacobsen (Sp) from Telemark. Photo: PRIVAT Promises all-out war Per-Olaf Lundteigen (Sp) is far from as sure of a split as the party leader. He promises all-out war if the government and municipal minister Sigbjørn Gjelsvik turn a deaf ear. – I am not at all confident that we will get one state administrator for each county municipality, even if that is the only right thing. This will be a fight, and I can guarantee you that we will win, says Lundteigen. It was Erna Solberg’s government that created the disputed county municipalities of Vestfold and Telemark, Troms and Finnmark and the mammoth Viken. After the election victory in autumn 2021, the Ap and Sp government immediately started the job of dissolving them. On 14 June last year, Viken, Vestfold and Telemark as well as Troms and Finnmark were dissolved. However, the state administration offices for the aforementioned county municipalities have not been split. Crazy and hopeless – It’s absolutely crazy. Of course, each county municipality must have its own state administrator. – For us who live in Buskerud, it is hopeless to have to deal with authorities who have no idea about local conditions in our county, says Per-Olaf Lundteigen. READY TO FIGHT: Storting representative Per-Olaf Lundteigen (Sp) in Buskerud. Photo: Trond Stenersen / news Ahead of the decision to dissolve Vestfold and Telemark county council, representative to the Storting and then head of the municipal and administration committee, Lene Vågslid (Ap), was very clear. To news, she said that it had to be a premise that the state administration office was also split. Now the parliamentary representative from Telemark is far more cautious. – Vestfold and Telemark Ap have decided that the state administrator must follow the new county structure. I will work for such a solution for our county, as I have stated previously. But the matter has not been decided in the government yet, says Vågslid. – Do you believe in a decision before the election in the autumn, and how confident are you that the government will choose to split the state administration office in the three county municipalities? – The case is in process. That is what I can say at the present time, replies Vågslid. Will have a decision before the election Åslaug Sem-Jacobsen does not think this autumn’s local elections are the reason why the government has not yet reached a conclusion. On the contrary, she has faith in a quick clarification. – I both want and hope for a decision before the election. That would have been optimal. This is not a difficult issue for the government and should be a straightforward task, the SP politician maintains. Hedda Foss Five (Ap) is at least as impatient. FEAR CONSEQUENCES: Mayor Hedda Foss Five (Ap) in Skien municipality. Photo: MARTIN TORSVEIT / news According to the outgoing mayor of Skien, Telemark lost between 100 and 150 government jobs when Vestfold and Telemark county council was dissolved. Now Foss Five fears that these will not return if the state administrator’s office is maintained in its current form. – Telemark is actually among the counties in this country that have the fewest government jobs. Then we cannot risk that between 100 and 150 government jobs will be taken away from Telemark. It is extremely serious, says the ski mayor. She points out that the vast majority of the counties in this country already have their own state administrator. – As a significant county in this country, we must also have it, states Hedda Foss Five. Short-sighted minister She has the following message for her own government: – We want a decision quickly. We have waited a long time and this is a decision that is extremely important when we are going to build new counties and county municipalities where the state workplaces play an important role, says Hedda Foss Five. Municipal and District Minister Sigbjørn Gjelsvik (Sp) is very tight-lipped about the ongoing process. – The evaluation of the state administrator structure is still under consideration in the ministry, is all the minister wants to be quoted on.
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Battle for “the king’s man” – the municipal minister is pressured by his own – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
