More parties are currently targeting Rune Bakervik (Ap) than Christine Meyer (H) as city council leader in Bergen. – What I now want to do is to invite to talks with the parties that want this, to find out if there is a basis for starting negotiations on expanding the current city council, writes Bakervik in a message to news. SV, Raudt, Sp and Bergenslisten believe that Bakervik should retain city council power in Bergen. KrF, Venstre and the Pensioners’ Party believe Meyer should take over power. This is what the party has said in its meetings called by acting mayor Eira Garrido (SV) for Monday. FRP, MDG and INP have not wanted to “point at” either Meyer or Bakervik in their meetings. – As of today, in our opinion, neither of the two are capable of governing, writes Ann Jorun Hillersøy in INP to news. Neither side agreed on a majority. City council leader Rune Bakervik still has power in Bergen, but is quite tight for power after the local elections last Monday. In just over a year, the city council in Bergen has shrunk from four to one party. The Labor Party (Ap) is now alone. First the Christian People’s Party (KrF) thanked them, then the Green Party (MDG) was kicked out. And last week the Liberals jumped over to the Right, which did well in the local elections in the city. Then KrF also went over to Høgre, and these three parties are now negotiating to form a minority city council as a team to take over power in Bergen. From left: Joel Ystebø in KrF, Per-Arne Hvidsten Larsen in Venstre and Christine Meyer in Høgre are now negotiating to form a minority city council in Bergen. Photo: Silje Rognsvåg / news But even if Ap is without its three political leaders, Bakervik is still the city’s top political leader. So far, he has not resigned voluntarily, and the right-wing side has not gathered to throw him out. Because neither the right nor the left agree on a majority in the newly elected city council. In Bergen city council, one must have at least 34 votes to have a majority. Høgre, Venstre and KrF together get only 23 seats in the new city council. Ap receives support from Raudt, the Socialist Left Party (SV) and MDG, but this only gives it 27 votes. Therefore, it is still not clear who will govern Bergen for the next four years. Høgre calls for a meeting On Monday evening, Bergen Høgre calls for a meeting of the main board, writes BT. According to the newspaper, there is only one topic on the agenda, namely briefing on the current political situation. Many must be surprised that cooperation with KrF and Venstre has been prioritized over the parties that can secure a majority in the city council. news knows of critics within Høgre who are dissatisfied that Christine Meyer (H) has closed the door to the party that wants a rematch against the light rail over Bryggen. – We know Høgre well, and of course I understand that someone wants me to go a different way. But now I have made a choice, and the choice feels right, answers Meyer. Høgre’s city council leader candidate, Christine Meyer, is asking the Labor Party to throw in the towel. Photo: Linnea Skare Oskarsen / news Høgre’s city council leader candidate believes it is time for Labor to give up power in Bergen. – We are ready to take over the city council’s power. It is quite natural that we point at ourselves, she says after her meeting with Garrido today. – I had hoped that Bakervik would now throw in the towel and hand over power to us. I am sure that we will arrive at a good basis for a city council capable of governance, but it will take time, she concludes. Criticizes the mayor’s initiative Acting mayor Eira Garrido (SV) called in the talks on Monday to get an overview of who the party thinks should be city council leader. Several parties believe that it is unfortunate and premature for Garrido to ask the party for clarification about the parliamentary situation now while negotiations and talks are still taking place, and Bakervik is still city council leader. The first candidate for the Bergen Frp, Marte Monstad, refused this morning to have a formal conversation with Garrido about the power of the city council. The party believes it is too early. Marte Monstad and the FRP are no longer in discussions with Høgre, after Christine Meyer (H) made it clear that there will be no rematch on the light rail issue. Photo: Silje Rognsvåg / news – We cannot see that it is her task to point to a new city council leader candidate as long as Bakervik has not announced his resignation or received a motion of no confidence against him, writes Monstad. Both Høgre and Ap quite agree with Monstad on this. – So far, no one has a parliamentary majority. Then it is a little premature to have a discussion where you have to point at who you want as city council leader, believes Geir Steinar Dale (Ap). He calls today’s conversation with Garrido “a decent and open dialogue”, but thinks it is a bit early to use the conversations with the various parties to appoint someone for the current city council leader. Meyer (H) also believes that the meeting call from the mayor came too early. – I think this came on a bit suddenly. With Bakervik still sitting as city council leader, there is no need to “rush” it so much, she says. This is how acting mayor Garrido responds to the criticism: – This can be experienced as a bit of a “rush” for some. For my part, the desire was to get as much clarification and clarity as possible in the parliamentary situation. These conversations have given me an overview as mayor, and I think that has been useful now when the party will move on to negotiations, she says. Acting mayor Eira Garrido (SV) says Monday’s meetings were important to get an overview. Photo: Linnea Skare Oskarsen / news
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Rune Bakervik and the Labor Party take up the fight to remain in the city council even if Høgre won the election – news Vestland
