When the election results for Måsøy municipality in Finnmark were still being counted, mayoral candidate Ingrid Majala (35) was on her way from Havøysund to Hammerfest in an ambulance. The little girl, who had waited a whole week past her due date for her mother to finish the selection, wanted out. – A lot happened in twelve hours, Majala said on the phone from the maternity ward at Hammerfest hospital. While the new mother of four was in the hospital, the father followed in the car. – We must say we are satisfied with election night. Victory in the local elections and the birth of a child in a few hours, says new father Kevin Samuelsen. Majala commented on the election results earlier on election night. The 35-year-old is ready to take over the mayoral chain, but first she has to take maternity leave. – We must find a solution that ensures that the position is taken care of in the best possible way. In Babybobla, it is probably not in the best interests of the municipality that I am mayor. But, I am very ready to go full throttle. It will be an exciting start to the leave period, says the future mayor. Kevin Samuelsen didn’t make it to the birth itself, but says he is ready to roll up his sleeves on home soil for the next four years, when his partner Ingrid Majala will be mayor. Photo: Kevin Samuelsen List started with desire for political change In this year’s election, Majala ran as the first candidate for Bygdelista in Måsøy, which was started with the aim of bringing about a political change in the municipality with 1,100 inhabitants. Something the list now achieves. A collaboration has been agreed with the Center Party, which ensures a majority with eight out of 15 mandates for the municipal council. – We probably didn’t expect to get the result we got. It is very positive that so many people have so much faith in me and list that they want us in the driver’s seat, said Majala about the election result. Ingrid Majala just managed to catch the election night at home in Havøysund before she was sent to give birth in Hammerfest on the night of Tuesday. Photo: Privat The new mayor is clear about which issues will be tackled when she takes over. – The first thing we will address is the transparency of political processes, so that the citizens will know what is going on behind the scenes, she announces. – A trend in European politics In many municipalities in the country, lists without party affiliation to the major national parties have made good choices. The Industrial and Business Party (INP) is an example of a party that has nationally gathered both politicians and voters from other countries. INP ran for election for the first time in 2021 and is, after the municipal and county council elections, the country’s tenth largest party. In Finnmark, the Nordkalott people made a snap election with over 19.5 percent of the vote. Which makes the party the county’s second largest. Political scientist Troy Saghaug Broderstad explains the formation of new parties and list parties as a trend in European politics. – In general, in the political landscape, we see small parties and protest parties that want to challenge the status quo of the parties that have ruled for many years, says Broderstad. – In addition, many small towns may not have enough residents to submit a list for all parties in the Storting. It means that coalition partners find together. Despite disagreements, they form lists to collaborate on issues that they agree on. Troy Saghaug Broderstad, associate professor of comparative politics at the University of Tromsø – Norway’s Arctic University, says that many small parties are emerging around Europe. Photo: Christian Kråkenes / news Good cooperation in the face of tough economic times Mayor Wenche Pedersen was the election’s big winner in Vadsø. The Labor Party (Ap) defies the national trend and advances by almost three percentage points. The Socialist Forum is also doing well. The politicians who resigned from SV in protest get three representatives, while the SV list gets only one. – I think it was absolutely right to make a list. We will continue to complement each other and run the policy for the city we are so happy in, says first candidate and deputy mayor Hanne Harila. Both the Labor Party and the Socialist Forum are keen on further cooperation. Vadsø municipality, with just over 5,500 inhabitants, had a deficit of 24 million last year, and Wenche Pedersen is warning of tough cuts. This is where the political effort will be put forward towards December, according to Harila. – Now we use the time until December to get a tough budget in place in December. After that, we look at the way forward, says Harila. Hanne Harila (Socialist Forum) and Wenche Pedersen (Labor Party) on election duty. The two envision continuing their collaboration as deputy mayor and mayor in Vadsø. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news
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