LO in Sør-Varanger strongly against the Conservative mayor who wants to remove Russian street signs in Kirkenes – news Troms and Finnmark

The city was proudly referred to as Little Murmansk. Now the municipality is torn apart by heated debates. The reason is the war in Ukraine. As a sign of friendship and peace after the Cold War, street signs were given in the Church’s Cyrillic letters. However, it did not become Russian since street names in Norwegian cannot be translated letter for letter. The debate has simmered for a long time, but now mayor Magnus Mæland wants to remove the signs. – I have doubted until now that the signs should be taken down. At the same time, I also see the counterarguments. Namely that they should be allowed to stand as a sign that we still hope for democratic development in Russia, says Mæland to news. Sør-Varanger’s mayor, Magnus Mæland, wants to take down “Russian street signs” in Kirkenes. Photo: Gunnar Sætra / news Compared to Trump It was the class struggle that set the debate ablaze this time. In the interview, Mæland welcomed NATO exercises to Sør-Varanger. Allied military exercises today take place no further east than Porsanger. This is 400 kilometers from Kirkenes and the Norwegian-Russian border. At the same time, he said the signs should be removed. This caused LO in Sør-Varanger to react on Facebook. The criticism is that Mæland creates discord and polarization among people. “Mæland’s method is reminiscent of Trump where he tries to create false contradictions and conflicts in a small local community”. No matter where you go in the center of Kirkenes, you can see both Norwegian and “Russian” street signs. Photo: Kristina Kalinina / news The comparison with the US’s controversial presidential candidate Donald Trump caused Mæland to light up. “This is gross. Polarizing? Conflict-creating? The rhetoric here is sickening,” Mæland retorted. At the LO office in Kirkenes, they stand firm on the criticism. – This is not particularly strong on our part, says secretary Torbjørn Brox Webber. Mæland says to news that Sør-Varanger is looking for a new identity, away from Russia. – I am clear as mayor that I welcome NATO, the EU, the USA and Finland to Sør-Varanger. It’s about values. It’s about symbols. So it is important for many that we talk about this. Photo: Kristina Kalinina / news – Scary signals Amy Brox Webber has been a local politician for SV in Sør-Varanger and is the county leader for Finnmark SV. She has also sat on the defense commission that came up with its report in 2023. She believes the mayor is going too far in his eagerness to sanction Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. – I think the mayor of Sør-Varanger is sending rather scary signals. Identity is not something the municipality develops in the mayor’s office. It is something that develops over time from people and between people. Secretary of LO in Sør-Varanger Torbjørn Brox Webber is married to leader of Finnmark SV Amy Brox Webber. Published 19.09.2024, at 17.12



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