– I would have liked to see that the women’s section was larger. Leiv Arne Marhaug is a mayoral candidate for Høgre in Karmøy. They have 43 names on the list for the election this autumn. 13 of them are women. Of all the 376 candidates standing for election in the municipality, 37.8 per cent are women. For Norway as a whole, the proportion of women on the lists is 41.3 per cent. This is shown by news’s review of all the 53,305 candidates who are on various party and district lists for the municipal elections this autumn. – It is unfortunate that this is the case. We would have liked to have been above the average, says Marhaug. But in addition to the proportion of female medical candidates falling, the age has gone up. The average age of those who stand for election is 52 years. That is an increase of two years in two elections. And as you can see from the statistics, almost three and a half years in four elections. But Karmøy does not only have a lower proportion of women. The average age of the candidates is also higher there. This year, the average candidate in the Vestlands municipality is a man aged 53. Thinks it’s a democratic problem In working with this case, news has asked more than 20 women, in several places in Karmøy, if they want to comment on the statistics. Only two said yes: Aslaug Kongshavn – I think it’s a democratic problem because you don’t bring up the issues that women are most concerned about. – Why are there so few women? – I think it’s about the culture in politics. How people express themselves. One can be a little frightened by it. In addition, it may also be a bit about the internet. We know that women get much more hate than men and that is a problem. And then the party must prioritize getting hold of the women. Have they run after the ladies on Karmøy and asked them to join? – Why don’t you run? – I have been on the Diocesan Council and recommend others to get involved politically. You learn a great deal about political processes and daring to speak out. But then it is important to have a safe environment because it is unpleasant to stand in difficult cases. Now I don’t stand because I don’t know if I could have put up with it the way it is now. Janne Kristine Sørheim – It’s a shame. It is important to express women’s opinions. We tend to think differently than men and want to bring forward the issues that are important to us. – Why do you think there are so few women? – It is perhaps a bit traditional here on Karmøy. Perhaps we still think that it is men’s job to decide. – Why don’t you apply? – No, I don’t know. I am a teacher and mother of young children and I have enough of that. Ragnhild Louise Muriaas is professor of political science at the University of Bergen, and focuses on questions related to gender, representation, elections and democratization. Ragnhild Louise Muriaas, researcher at the University of Bergen. Photo: Valentina Baisotti / news – There has been a lot of focus on women in politics and some have tried to mobilize. Then one would have liked to have thought that the number would go up, she says. She says studies show that when established politicians experience harassment, they do not react by quitting politics. – But what one is worried about is whether women are reluctant to enter politics because of harassment and harassment, she says. Start a group for those under 40 The current municipal council in Karmøy has only one representative under 40. And on the electoral lists for the next municipal election, the average age is 53. Two years higher than at the last municipal election. If you look at the average age of those who are top of the list in the whole of Norway, i.e. the mayoral candidates, this is also high and has decreased minimally since the previous election. But Muriaas still believes that we have quite young politicians in Norway. – Then you have to work actively to recruit new groups. Both young people and women, she says. Reidun Johansen Bergland, one of the youngest list candidates in Karmøy, is running for Raudt this autumn. Reidun Johansen Bergland (Raudt) is on the list for the first time. Photo: Marthe Synnøve Johannessen / news The 23-year-old is afraid that politics will become monotonous when the age of the politicians is so high. – To ensure democracy, I think it is important that young people get involved, she says. But she understands that other young people refuse. – I’ve heard that there are people who think I’m too young, but I’ve also heard that people think it’s a bit cool that I dare to get involved. The advanced age has meant that around 30 list candidates in Karmøy have formed a cross-party group for those under 40. One of them is Marianne Cederløw (Ap). Marianne Cederløw (Ap) hopes the voters this autumn will be aware of bringing in younger candidates when they go to the polls in September. Photo: Marthe Synnøve Johannessen / news – I am a little skeptical about whether we can actually make good discussions and decisions for those who are younger if I have not had a voice in the matter. Now she hopes that those who will vote in September will be aware and cross off candidates under 40. 3 out of 14 list tops are women In 2019, news wrote a case that 12 out of 12 list tops in Karmøy were men. May Synnøve Rygh from KrF is one of three women who top the list in Karmøy. Photo: Marthe Synnøve Johannessen / news Four years later, things haven’t gotten that much better. Now 11 out of 14 are men. May Synnøve Rygh is standing for election as a mayoral candidate for Karmøy KrF. She is one of the top three women in the list in the municipality and believes it is high time that the number of women standing for election increases. But she has a theory about why the numbers are the way they are: – We are perhaps a bit more conservative here in the municipality, says Rygh. Rune Midtun is the FRP’s mayoral candidate in Karmøy. Photo: Marthe Synnøve Johannessen / news One of the male list tops in Karmøy, Rune Midtun (Frp), says the party is working to increase the proportion of women, but thinks the women are frightened by how much time politics takes. He tops a list with 43 names. 12 of these are women. – But those who have got involved see that they can make a difference, so hopefully there are more people who see the point of spending more time on this, he says.
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There will be more older people and fewer women in municipal politics – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
