Of 69 ministers and state secretaries, none now have roots from non-Western countries. There is room for more diversity, admits the Prime Minister’s office.
On Friday, Norwegian-Lebanese Nancy Herz (Ap) left the government. She was graciously dismissed by the King in the Council of Ministers from the position of State Secretary in the Ministry of Labor and Inclusion.
Her resignation was also a farewell to ethnic diversity in the government apparatus.
The government answers to a parliament that has never before been more diverse. Today, 11 out of 169 representatives have an immigrant background from countries outside Europe. But in the government, the matter is completely different.
After Herz’s departure, there are now 69 ministers and state secretaries in the government. None of these have an immigrant background from countries outside the West.
They rule a country where barely every fifth inhabitant has roots from other countries.
When Herz was appointed as Secretary of State in 2021, she and Hadia Tajik were the only ones with a minority background among 63 people. Tajik retired a year ago. Whereas Herz is quitting this week. Aftenposten has not been able to get in touch with Herz.
– We must continue to work so that several different identities are represented, and that people continue to talk about this, she told Aftenposten when she was appointed.
But the opposite has happened in the government apparatus.
“Too bad”
Aftenposten has asked the Prime Minister’s Office (SMK) several questions about the lack of ethnic diversity in the government. SMK responds with a single statement by e-mail.
“People with a minority background are not well enough represented in politics in general, nor in the government apparatus. There is room for more diversity and more different voices, and we will work to ensure that the population with an immigrant background is represented to a greater extent.”
It is State Secretary Halvard Hølleland who says this. He goes on to say that everyone who works in the government apparatus is made up of different considerations. Among other things on the basis of experience, geography and gender.
Among other things, there are people in the government apparatus with a Sami and Faroese background.
Not much better under Solberg
Also during the Solberg government, non-Western representation was poor.
Aftenposten has gone through lists of ministers and state secretaries from 2013 to 2021. Of 196 people, we found only four with a multicultural background outside the West:
- Abid Raja, Minister of State.
- Himanshu Gulati, State Secretary.
- Laila Bokhari, State Secretary.
- Dilek Ayhan, State Secretary.
The latter believes it is sad that one has not progressed further in top politics. Dilek Ayhan also includes the government she herself was part of.
– So far, the Norwegian governments have not been good enough to represent the breadth of diversity, she says.
Laila Bokhari thinks the same. She writes in a text message to Aftenposten that it is a shame that the government apparatus is now turning chalk white.
– First and foremost because you miss out on interesting expertise, insight, experience and networks.
Believes diversity means experience
Dilek Ayhan says that every government should work to ensure diversity. She believes it is important that the entire population can see themselves represented in the state apparatus.
– The experience that the multicultural part of our population brings with them is important. Both when new policies are to be made and implemented, she says.
And there are plenty of good people out there, she says.
– There is no shortage of talent among Norwegians with a multicultural background, she says.
In the Solberg government there were also people with, among other things, Sami, Bosnian, German, Icelandic and British backgrounds.
