– I have not discussed this with anyone in the Storting. But I see no problems with combining the two roles, says Bengt Rune Strifeldt (Frp), who sits on the industry committee at the Stortinget for Finnmark. Bengt Rune Strifeldt (Frp) believes it is entirely possible to combine the roles of parliamentary representative and mayor in Finnmark’s largest city, Alta. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad / news The nomination meeting in the Alta Frp had nominated Ronny Berg as the mayoral candidate. Just before the summer, however, he accepted the job as municipal director in Karasjok. This left the local team without a clear mayoral candidate. The solution was to let the personal votes decide. And after the personal votes had been counted on Tuesday evening, it was clear that Bengt Rune Strifeldt had received the most votes. – It is very nice that so many people want me to be at the top, says Strifeldt. Dependent on goodwill As the FRP became by far the largest party in Finnmark’s largest city, it will be natural that they also get the mayor. But the party is probably dependent on cooperation to secure a bourgeois majority. And the natural link will be Frp, Høyre and Venstre. The Conservative Party received 12.4 percent of the vote and will have a lot of power in the negotiations. Whether the local team will be satisfied with a mayor from the FRP who will fly between Oslo and Alta is, however, uncertain. – It is neither wise nor right for me to comment on this now. We have a board meeting in Alta Høyre on Thursday. Before that time, I don’t want to say anything, he says. Alta Frp probably depends on a collaboration with Alta Høyre to get the mayor for the next four years. However, Høyre’s 1st candidate, Alex Bjørkmann, will not comment on Strifeldt’s possible dual role until the local team has discussed the matter. Photo: Christina Gjertsen / news If Bengt Rune Strifeldt does not become the party’s mayoral candidate, the arrows will point in the direction of Odd Eilert Selvaste Persen. He received the second most personal votes. Persen early proclaimed himself as the current mayoral candidate after Ronny Berg left the local team. The board did not want this. – I think it will be very demanding. Political scientist at UiT, Jonas Stein, has never come across a person who has been mayor and parliamentary politician at the same time. – It is not forbidden to combine the two roles. But there are a number of practical elements here that the municipal council must decide on, says Stein. – What practical elements? – There are 2,000 kilometers between Oslo and Alta. Having to participate in meetings in both places at the same time can be difficult, says Stein. – Do you think it will be possible to do a good job by combining these two roles? – I think it will be very demanding, says Stein. Political scientist Jonas Stein has not come across a politician who has combined the role of permanent representative in the Storting and mayor. Photo: Rune N. Andreassen – In principle, there is nothing in the way of holding office in several elected bodies at the same time. However, it follows from established practice that leave of absence from the Storting office is not granted to exercise office as a local elected official, says senior adviser Gunnar Syverud at the Storting. – The Storting has not received any application from Strifeldt. If we were to get it, it would receive a thorough and proper treatment, says senior advisor at the Storting, Gunnar Syverud. Photo: Directorate of Agriculture Asks party colleague to think about Partifelle in Vadsø Frp Ståle Johan Karlsen will not have too strong opinions about Strifeldt’s potential dual role. But, as he says: – Strifeldt should think again. I think it can be difficult to hold both positions at the same time. Being the mayor of a municipality as large as Alta is demanding. It is also the parliamentary job, says Karlsen. He has no doubts about what he himself would do. – Personally, I would have the problem of doing a good job in both positions at the same time. After all, there are two important posts. If I were Bengt Rune, I would try to get leave from the Storting, he says. Ståle Johan Karlsen in Vadsø FRP asks Bengt Rune Strifeldt to think carefully. – If I were Bengt Rune, I would try to get leave from the Storting, he says. Photo: Private Hammerfest colleague supports Strifeldt Partifelle in Hammerfest, Arne Reidar Myrseth, has confidence that Bengt Rune Strifeldt knows what he is doing. He believes it may be possible to be both mayor of Finnmark’s largest city, while at the same time holding the parliamentary job. – With great work capacity, and the ability to work smart, this can be done. But it can be both tough and demanding, says Myrseth. Arne Reidar Myrseth in Hammerfest Frp, has faith that Bengt Rune Strifeldt can manage to juggle the two roles. Photo: Allan Klo / news Will not raise double salary Strifeldt himself says that he will continue to work for the best interests of Finnmark, if he continues in the Storting. – I will continue to be responsive to the rest of the county. And I think it must be possible to have two thoughts in your head at the same time. If he ends up sitting in both the parliamentary seat and the mayor’s chair in his home town, it is out of the question to raise a double salary. – If I am elected as mayor, I will not need a mayor’s salary in the coming years. So then the flow of money will go the right way – from south to north, says the parliamentary representative jokingly.
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Strifeldt in the FRP will be mayor of Alta, with a salary from the Storting – news Troms and Finnmark
