– Then I think they are more interested in having the mayor, than listening to the population in the municipality, says Benjamin Vartdal from Ørsta. He was able to use his right to vote for the first time, and looked forward to being able to influence how his home municipality should be. The 19-year-old eagerly followed the election from the North Sea, where he works. And to his great joy, the party he voted for became the biggest, namely the Progress Party. But the next day the news came that the party will neither get the mayor nor the deputy mayor. It was the Conservative Party and the Center Party that got it. The Progress Party in Ålesund cheered the election results. They became the largest in the municipality, but do not yet know if they will get the mayor. Negotiations are still ongoing on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Jonas Otneim / news Thought it would be a different outcome – At first I was terribly happy. I’m not that politically engaged, but I voted Frp because I wanted change. And it was clear that others wanted to, says the 19-year-old. But then it became clear that the Conservative Party joined forces with the Liberal Party, the Christian People’s Party, the Labor Party and the Center Party. – I am shocked when they turn their backs on the largest party, and almost turn against them, he says. He is surprised that the Conservative Party did not choose to join forces with the Progress Party and another smaller party, instead with four others. – The population wanted the Progress Party and Conservative politics in, says Vartdal. Read the response from Høyre further down. Why is it like that? There are several examples around the country where the largest party does not necessarily get that much power: Other examples In Nærøysund, the Center Party got the most votes, but the Labor Party got the mayor and the Progressive Party got the deputy mayor. In Kristiansund, the Liberal Party became the largest party, but the Labor Party got the mayor and Nordmørslista the deputy mayor. In Sauda, the Center Party got the most votes, but the Labor Party got the mayor and the Conservative Party the deputy mayor. In Møre and Romsdal County Council, the Progress Party became the largest party, but the Conservative Party got the county mayor and the FRP the deputy mayor. news’s political commentator Tone Sofie Aglen says the choice of mayor is made based on negotiations and the parties’ ability to build alliances. – As long as a party does not have a majority on its own, they are dependent on getting support from other parties to get the mayor. Then you have to have political friends. She says it is both about political matters, the ability to collaborate, generosity and, not least, personal chemistry. – Smaller parties can be skilled there. Sometimes one turns away from large parties because they are perceived as arrogant in power. In addition, individual local cases can play a big role, Aglen explains. Political commentator at news, Tone Sofie Aglen. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – Political color plays much less of a role than in national politics. The ideological differences are not that great, and little can separate the various mayoral candidates. And it is not at all unusual that the largest party does not get the mayor. – The Center Party is an example of a party that has more mayors than its size would indicate. It’s about them being in the center and can easily turn both ways. In addition, they are known to be good dealers, so-called horse traders. But the ability to cooperate is probably decisive here. – What has been the situation in Ørsta for the past eight years has been that Frp, Ap and Sp have had a constellation. We have entered it, while the FRP has left it, says the new mayor of Ørsta, Per-Are Sørheim (H). Photo: Annabelle Kårvåg Sørensen / news – Listening to the people Per-Are Sørheim (H) has been selected as the new mayor of Ørsta. He says they have had good cooperation with Venstre and KrF for twelve years, and that they have been their allies in major matters. He explains that during the negotiations it was the centrist candidates who came up with the best offer: that the Conservative Party should get the mayor. – We did not receive that offer from the FRP. We haven’t really received a proper offer from them. That is the reality in this case, claims Sørheim. By entering into cooperation with the four parties, they end up with a majority. – And then we listen to the people, says the mayor. Benjamin Vartdal is even more motivated to use his right to vote in the future. Photo: Kristoffer M. Grimstad The 19-year-old says this makes him want to exercise his right to vote even more. – They are more sick of power than they want to listen to the people. I get a little pissed off, but that won’t stop me from voting. Next time I will vote twice, concludes Vartdal.
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Municipal and county council elections: Largest party
