In a post on Facebook this morning, Utøya victim Tarjei Jensen Bech shared the news: He has told the nomination committee in the Labor Party that they must put someone else at the top. “Before the summer, I was motivated to be the top candidate for the Labor Party in Finnmark. I am not now anymore. The last few months have been really sad. I have struggled with anxiety attacks,” writes the 30-year-old. Bech became the youngest county mayor ever from Troms and Finnmark when he moved up last year. It happened after Sandra Borch became a minister and Ivar B. Prestbakmo took her place in the Storting. Harsh tone in the debate In the post, Bech writes that the debate climate with comment fields and social media has become far too tough. “I have let everything that is written get to me, and it has resulted in anxiety attacks at times. The anxiety attacks have come on planes, in the office and out on the town. It has also resulted in a bad mood and that I have not been the best version of myself. My mood lately has also resulted in me hurting people I love,” writes Bech. Bech tells news that there has been a process since this summer, and that he has made the decision after talking to good friends. – I love doing politics, and have done so since I was 13 years old. But the word change has become so insanely tough. You have to have incredibly tough skin, and I don’t have that at the moment, says Bech. – It requires an incredible amount, and I don’t have the motivation and energy to do it now. Utøya survivor Tarjei Jensen Bech was 19 years old when he was shot in the leg on Utøya. He fell ten meters straight down. – It gave me an extra burden in my life which may have made me react more strongly to these things, says Bech – and refers to the internet. He was among the survivors who were subjected to death threats, and was told that it would have been best if he had remained on Utøya and not survived. It peaked after the decision to merge Troms and Finnmark county municipalities. “Too bad Breivik didn’t hit better,” wrote an anonymous instigator. That is precisely why it is extra heavy that he is no longer in power, he writes. “For me, politics has been about being part of something bigger than myself,” writes Tarjei Jensen Bech. Photo: Jan Harald Tomassen / news “It feels like a defeat. That I will let the trolls win. That I should let the comment section get to me. I have always said the opposite. That the haters won’t win. That’s how it feels now. That I let them win,” he writes. He would prefer to continue his involvement for the sake of the 69 who were shot and killed by the terrorist. “It feels like I’m letting them down. That I wasn’t strong enough.” Right-wing talent resigned Tarjei Jensen Bech is not the first young politician to resign after incitement. Vetle Langedahl from Finnmark Høyre threw in the towel after the election last year with much of the same reasoning. He said that he had been spat on and harassed. – I think I have never had a media report where I have not received some form of disparaging comment, said Langedahl to news. He happens to be Bech’s cousin. Vetle Langedahl in the Conservative Party gave up politics after six years as an elected representative. He was then 24. Photo: news As a 24-year-old, Langedahl had already been elected for six years. Erna Solberg referred to him as a future political star and a possible future minister, but he withdrew from all politics indefinitely. Threat to democracy Storting President Masud Gharahkhani (Ap) says it is incredibly sad that Bech is giving up. He refers to surveys that PST does regularly. – There are politicians who, unfortunately, put a restraint on themselves, because they are afraid that they will get a lot of anger back if they participate in the debate on some topics. The surveys also show that there are several politicians who are considering giving up, because it is too tough to stand it. It is simply a threat to democracy. Gharahkhani is also pleased that the young people he meets on school visits to upper secondary schools, most recently at Bjerke in Oslo today, seem to be far more aware. Masud Gharahkhani believes that the younger people have a more reflective relationship with online debates and factuality. Photo: William Jobling / news He has the impression that it is adults who most often express themselves hatefully. – Some sit on Facebook, don’t see other people face to face and think they can write all sorts of crap. Here it is important that we as a society come to an agreement and say that we cannot have it like this, says the president of the Storting. Must think about himself Tarjei Jensen Bech says that he has been elected since he was 19 years old and a full-time politician since he was 25 years old. – So it might be a bit nice to be myself and not be in the spotlight all the time. Bech assures that he has the energy and enthusiasm to stand out as county mayor until he is replaced after the next election. Although he does not want to be at the top, he has made himself available for a place further down the Labor Party’s list. He has started reading law in his spare time in recent years, and expects to throw himself into his studies fully when he quits his job.
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Bech will not stand for re-election as county mayor – network an important reason – news Troms and Finnmark
