– Now it has to be cleaned up here, and it is urgent. We have 150,000 residents who wonder what is happening, says acting mayor of Stavanger, Henrik Halleland (KrF). Thus, the tone is quite different from yesterday, when Halleland stated that the case came out skewed from the jumping-off point, and that this made it unnecessarily complicated. – We are not in a challenging situation in Stavanger. Stavanger is still well managed. But it should have been communicated in a different way, Halleland said on Thursday. It was on Wednesday last week that the shocking news came in Stavanger Aftenblad: The mayor of Stavanger, Sissel Knutsen Hegdal (H), is resigning. The background is that she has used party funds for private consumption during the election campaign in 2023. Central Conservative Party supported her decision to resign, but Hegdal is still mayor. She herself must submit an application for exemption from office, but she has not yet done so. Just after a crisis meeting on Thursday evening, it became known that she has resigned from the party, and is now an independent representative. – It is dramatic. It is difficult to find anything similar in recent Norwegian history, says group leader for the Stavanger Labor Party, Dag Mossige. Group leader for the opposition’s largest party, Stavanger Labor Party, Dag Mossige. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – All the way up to Sissel Knutsen Hegdal is on sick leave, but says she is still mayor. Deputy mayor Henrik Halleland acts as mayor. – There is someone who manages the municipality. What happens next must be in the best interest of the citizens, he says. On Friday, the group leaders in the majority coalition will have a meeting about the situation. The majority parties consist of the Conservative Party, KrF, the Liberal Party, the FRP and the Pensioners’ Party. – It is the Conservative Party that decides in the Conservative Party, and it is entirely up to Sissel what she wants, says group leader in the Stavanger Frp, Leif Arne Moi Nilsen. Group leader in Stavanger Frp, Leif Arne Moi Nilsen Photo: Anders Fehn No clear majority – It is uncertain, but it is important that everyone in such a situation acts constructively. I have faith that we will achieve that, says group deputy leader John Peter Hernes (H). Group leader in Stavanger Høyre, Hilde Karlsen, believes the most important thing is to create calm around the situation. – We must have a clarification for the residents of the city and for the majority constellation. We have to do politics again. City council member Kjell Erik Grøsfjeld (H) writes to news that it was important for the group to clarify how it stands on the matter on Thursday. – It is positive that the group is united in this situation, but it is sad that Sissel is resigning from the Conservative Party. As for the process further, it is the group management that decides, writes Grøsfjeld. After Knutsen Hegdal’s departure from the Conservative Party, the bourgeois majority breaks down. Until now, they have had a minimal majority with 34 against 33 mandates in the Stavanger city council. – The important thing now is to get a new and clear political majority, so that we can get the calm and stability that the city needs, says Dag Mossige (Ap). Henrik Halleland (KrF, left) and Dag Mossige (Ap, right) during a budget meeting in Stavanger with the majority and the opposition. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news Quit the party without notice On Thursday evening, the Stavanger mayor suddenly quit the Conservative Party during an emergency meeting. It came as a surprise to the party. – No. She didn’t say anything about it yesterday, and nothing was said about her wanting to opt out either, says group leader in Stavanger Høyre, Hilde Karlsen, to “Political Quarter” on Friday morning. Published 13.09.2024, at 11.12 Updated 13.09.2024, at 12.31
ttn-69
Lacks a clear majority, residents are confused – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
