Olaug Bollestad was elected as the new leader of the Christian People’s Party, at the party’s extraordinary national meeting in Lillestrøm, Saturday.
– Thank you very much for the confidence to be a team leader. You hear me use the word team leader. Leadership is three things. It is to laugh and enjoy yourself and have it “jysla nice”. The second is to share experiences, and the third is to look and scout for new talents and old people. We will cultivate our talents, said Bollestad from the rostrum after the election.
Bollestad has served as leader since Kjell Ingolf Ropstad resigned shortly after the election, following the so-called “boys’ room scandal”.
– I’m glad Bollestad has said yes. She will be a good leader with ingenuity, charm and popularity, Ropstad told TV 2.
Ulstein challenged
The vacant deputy leader position Bollestad left behind, however, there was more drama around.
County leader in Troms and Finnmark Truls Olufsen-Mehus was surprisingly promoted as an alternative to the nominated 1st deputy candidate, parliamentary representative Dag Inge Ulstein. Olufsen-Mehus made himself available for the leadership position earlier this autumn, but was rejected by the nomination committee.
It was delegate Runar Enoksen who promoted Olufsen-Mehus.
– I pulled the shortest straw and now promote the black duckling, Truls Olufsen-Mehus, as deputy leader of KrF. He is well-liked by working people and is a freethinker, said Enoksen.
He received 11 votes, against Ulstein’s 149.
– ELECTED AFTER WRITTEN VOTING: Dag Inge Ulstein was elected 1st Deputy after written voting. He won overwhelmingly with 149 out of 160 votes. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB
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– A mature woman
The election of Bollestad as leader took place after a short debate.
Arne Willy Dahl from Akershus KrF was among those who spoke during the debate on the election.
– It is no secret that I went out in Vårt Land and had opinions about who I wanted as party leader. I pointed to Hans Olav Syversen. Many also pointed to Dag Inge Ulstein. In my argument, I also said that we should choose someone who has had as little to do with the unfortunate choice of direction, Dahl said from the podium, but quickly added:
– This does not mean that you should choose someone else Olaug Bollestad. On the contrary. She has done a good job once we had made this choice of direction.
Former KrF leader Kjell Magne Bondevik also got the word out in the debate.
– I think it is great that the party now chooses a mature woman, said Bondevik, and added that Bollestad must have the veterans of KrF to give the party a fresh start.
Facts about Olaug Bollestad:
* Born 4 November 1961 in Strand in Rogaland.
* Trained nurse. Worked as a manager at Stavanger University Hospital before she became mayor of Gjesdal municipality in 2007.
* Elected to Rogaland County Council in 2007.
* Mayor of Gjesdal municipality from 2007 to 2013.
* Has been elected to the Storting since 2013, and is currently a member of the health and care committee in the Storting.
* 2nd Deputy Chairman of KrF from 2015 to 2017. Then 1st Deputy Chairman.
* Was Minister of Agriculture in the period 22 January 2019–14. October 2021.
* Acting party leader from 24 September this year, after Kjell Ingolf Ropstad resigned. Was also acting leader for a period in 2019 after Knut Arild Hareide resigned.
* Will be elected party leader in KrF on Saturday.
Source: NTB
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