There is complete confusion about what will happen in Stavanger politics going forward, and the most central question is “Who will be the city’s mayor?”. The answer to this simple question is by no means obvious. Because the politicians must follow the law, and it allows the current mayor Sissel Knutsen Hegdal to remain in office, even if the majority in the city council does not want her. Based on answers from the political secretariat in Stavanger, we have listed six different scenarios that deal with the mayor question in Stavanger. She submits an application for exemption from office Sissel Knutsen Hegdal must submit an application to the city council for exemption from office, if she wishes to resign as mayor. As of now, she hasn’t. An application for exemption must be submitted no later than two weeks before a city council meeting. The next city council meeting in Stavanger is 14 October. She must therefore submit an application for exemption by 30 September, if it is to be considered at that meeting. It is the city council that must approve this application. Once that is done, they must elect a new mayor. It is the majority in the city council that decides who takes over. A mayor from another party can be elected, if the majority of the city council so wishes. She does not deliver an exemption from office, and will remain as mayor without a party. If Sissel Knutsen Hegdal does not want to resign, she can remain as mayor. The person who is elected as mayor is elected for the entire period. She can thus remain in office even if she is no longer a member of the Conservative Party. Nor does she need to have the support of the other political parties. Sissel Knutsen Hegdal opened the cathedral earlier this summer. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news She will stay on as mayor, but the municipal politicians want to throw her out – There are very strict conditions in the law to do that, says Vatnaland. According to Lovdata, the municipal council or the county council can decide to remove the mayor from office if the mayor’s behavior shows that he or she is unfit to hold the office. – It is stated in the notes to the laws that unfitness is a strict criterion. The relationship must be qualified as reprehensible. An example is that a mayor is demented and is unable to assess his own situation. In addition, the cause must be a persistent situation and not a simple incident, says Vatnaland. 90 percent of the city council members must vote in favor of such a proposal. There is also a difference between being deprived of an office and suspension. Suspension applies, for example, if a mayor has been indicted or charged in a case, and must temporarily resign from office while an investigation is ongoing. The police continue with the investigation A mayor can be suspended if he is charged or prosecuted for certain criminal offences. Or is prosecuted for something that can lead to more than 3 years in prison. An investigation into Sissel Knutsen Hegdal has not yet been started. Should it become relevant, she will be investigated for embezzlement, where the penalty is a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years. Embezzlement is also not among the punishable conditions mentioned in the law. She can thus remain in office as mayor even if the police start an investigation, as the case now stands. Police attorney Rune Gjertsen told news two weeks ago that it was the embezzlement clause § 324 that would possibly be relevant if an investigation was started. Photo: Sindre Kirkeaas Normann / news She joins another party It is the person Sissel Knutsen Hegdal who has been elected mayor. Even if she joins another party, she will still be able to sit as mayor. A new majority is formed in the city council Sissel Knutsen Hegdal can still remain as mayor, even if a new majority is formed in the city council. Only when she has applied for and been granted exemption from office, can the city council elect a new one. Alternatively, the city council must make a decision that she must be stripped of her position, but as mentioned, there are strict conditions that must be met for this to happen. Stavanger city council. Here from 2019. Photo: Erik Waage / news He thinks the mayor’s protection is too strong. In other words, it takes a lot for a mayor to leave when the municipality is governed according to what is called the chairmanship model. Political scientist at the University of Stavanger, Svein Tuastad, believes that the example from Stavanger shows that the mayor’s protection is too strong. – If there is a manager who does not really have trust, it is not good for the organisation. And when there is such strong protection, a tool is missing to do what one should do in such a situation, says the political scientist. Political scientist at UiS, Svein Tuastad. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news He also refers to other municipalities where this has previously also been a relevant issue, such as Skien and Vågå. – At the same time, it shouldn’t be easy to throw out a mayor. The main idea that the protection is quite strong when one is chosen should remain. But here it becomes too strong. The Municipal Act may seem incomplete in this area, says Tuastad. Published 13.09.2024, at 13.07 Updated 13.09.2024, at 13.19
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Can Sissel Knutsen Hegdal sit as mayor without a party? – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
