– This is starting to approach one of the worst things I have experienced, said mayor Jan Oddvar Skisland (Ap) during the incident in the city council in Kristiansand on Wednesday. Politician Nils Nilsen has previously received a lot of criticism for contributing to a bad debate climate. He has previously called the mayor of Kristiansand “incompetent as mayor and politician”. In August, he resigned from the Democrats and joined the Industrial and Business Party (INP). The national party leadership does not want to have Nilsen as a representative, even though he is a member of the INP. During Wednesday’s meeting, he wanted to speak his case about party affiliation. It ended with an argument over an open microphone, booing from the audience, and a mayor who ordered Nilsen down from the podium. The incident has caused reactions, and will now be discussed in the chairmanship. Nils Nilsen believes he has the rules on his side after he was asked to leave the podium in a city council meeting in Kristiansand on Wednesday. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news Believes to have the rules on their side Skisland said during the meeting that they register that Nilsen disagrees, but that no time would be set aside for argumentation. Ten seconds into Nilsen’s presentation on the matter, he is therefore interrupted by the mayor. – I follow what are the city council regulations, says Nilsen. At the same time, he believes that Skisland is breaking the rules. Nilsen claims that comments from the mayor must be taken as a speech from the podium, to separate his roles as politician and mayor. – It was not me who had the explosive reaction. I made a polite argument, to which he reacted very explosively. He believes that Skisland has taken on a role that he does not master. – He does not follow the city council regulations, nor the municipal law, nor does he have public customs at this moment. Unacceptable behavior Skisland says after Wednesday’s meeting that Nilsen lacks respect and understanding for the rules of the game in the city council. – It fits into a context of similar experiences. But yesterday it went very far in relation to unacceptable behaviour. Mayor of Kristiansand, Jan Oddvar Skisland, thinks it is good that the chairmanship should discuss where the limit is for acceptable behavior in the city council. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news As the mayor perceives it, there are many in the city council who have given up. The administration is now working on how this type of behavior can be handled, confirms Skisland. – I thought it was bad. We cannot have it like this, and therefore I think it is good that the chairmanship can now make a statement about how to handle this. Nilsen, for his part, feels that he was gagged by the mayor. – I am there on behalf of my constituents, and the constituents must not be treated undemocratically. They must be heard, he says. I don’t think he will be thrown out Political commentator in Fædrelandsvennen, Vidar Udjus, believes that what happened is the latest result of the election results three years ago. – A lot has happened there, but this is probably a temporary tip on the cake. Political editor in Fædrelandsvennen, Vidar Udjus believes Nils Nilsen is breaking the rules. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news He believes that any such episode is serious for politics in Kristiansand, and can give the impression of a government characterized by chaotic conditions. Udjus does not think Nilsen will be thrown out, but is excited to see what the statements from the chairmanship will lead to. – I didn’t think Nilsen had a point here. I think Skisland found it difficult to keep order in the city council, and that Nilsen is a representative who has been difficult to keep track of. – Embarrassing group leader in the Conservative Party, Renate Hægeland was at the scene during the meeting on Wednesday. She thinks it is wise that the matter will be taken up in the chairmanship. – Then we get some time to lower our shoulders and calm down. Then we can make a good decision without letting our emotions rule. Hægeland understands the reactions that have come, and believes such incidents send signals that politicians only argue, and nothing is actually done by the elected officials. – I thought it was embarrassing. This was not the place for this discussion. Group leader in the Conservative Party, Renate Hægeland, is dismayed by the lack of respect for the working community that has been shown in the city council. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news The municipality’s lawyers have looked into the case where INP has requested that Nilsen not represent them in the Kristiansand city council. news has been in contact with municipal attorney Elisabeth Bach-Evensen Grønningsæter. She does not wish to comment on this matter, and refers to the mayor.
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Mayor and politician in dispute over open microphone in Kristiansand – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
