– He has everything to gain from this. If people didn’t know who Mímir Kristjánsson was before, they certainly do now, says political commentator and former Frp politician Trond Birkedal. On Saturday 17 September, Rogaland County Council is handing out 30,000 free copies of Rødt politician Mímir Kristjánsson’s book “Mamma er trygda”. The book is distributed in connection with the project “The whole of Rogaland reads”. – When the county council gives him so much attention, they have stepped over a line. There is one year left until the local elections, and the county council somehow interferes in it, says Birkedal. Trond Birkedal, political commentator and former Frp politician. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news Lars Kolbeinstveit, philosopher and advisor at Civita, wrote a review of Kristjánsson’s book shortly after its publication in 2019. He has divided opinions about the county council’s choice of book. – I think it’s a good project, and this book can help reach more of those who don’t read. But it can be criticized because it can be perceived as interference in the election campaign, he says. “Mamma er trygda” was published in 2019, and is in the genre of biographical literature. The book was well received by literary critics. Photo: Kagge forlag Positive that the book choice is controversial Project manager for “Hele Rogaland leser”, Stig Beite Løken, believes that Kristjánsson’s book is a book that fits the reading project perfectly. – We have all this in mind when choosing a book, but this one was at the top of the list. There are several reasons for that. It is easy to read, moving, thought-provoking and engaging. He does not think it is problematic that the choice of book is controversial. – If every year we choose a book that no one reacts to at all, it means that we have made very safe choices. Løken believes the book is not party political, just political. He wants literature to become a talking point. – If the book gets people involved, regardless of the page, we think that is positive. – Not an election manifesto from Rødt Mímir Kristjánsson does not believe that the book selection for “Hele Rogaland leser” will influence the local elections. – The fact that the county council interferes in the election, I think, is seeking criticism. The book came out three years ago and is primarily about my mother. It is of course possible to read politics out of it, but it is not an election manifesto from Rødt. I am not running for local elections, and there are not elections this year, but next year. Mímir Kristjánsson. Photo: Rødt He believes that literature will become poor if you cannot tolerate that books have politics in them. – We have to stop being afraid of things you don’t agree with. You benefit from reading things you disagree with. – Misjudgment from the county council The book from 2019 is Kristjánsson’s personal story about his mother who was divorced, got cancer and has been on social security for many years. At the same time, it raises questions about how society views people who go on social security. Birkedal believes the problem comes when it is the county council that distributes the book. Kristjánsson is an active politician and sits in the Storting. – It is clearly a misjudgment. I expect that the next time the government distributes books for free, a more mature assessment will have to be made than in this case, he says. Lars Kolbeinstveit. Photo: CF-Wesenberg / Kolonihaven.no Kolbeinstveit thinks it is understandable that the book selection creates discussion. – At the same time, I think it is important that you cannot demand that there be any form of political balance from the county council’s side, says Kolbeinstveit.
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County municipality distributes 30,000 copies of Mímir Kristjánsson’s book. – Meddling in the local elections – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
