YOUNG AND PROMISING: Even Jacobsen (18), Marianne Rossevatn (20) and Sivert Refsdal (18) are all under 21 years of age. In the autumn, all three can become mayors in their home municipalities. Photo: Private/Kjell Inge Søreide
While the seniors dominate top politics in the USA, several Norwegian municipalities may be led by teenagers after the autumn municipal elections.
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Several Norwegian municipalities may get young mayors after this autumn’s local elections. VG has interviewed three young mayoral candidates: Ringerike Venstre’s Even Jacobsen (18), Marianne Rossevatn (20) in Hægebostad Senterparti and Sivert Refsdal from Stange MDG. Jacobsen got involved politically because of the climate crisis, while Rossevatn , who may become Norway’s youngest mayor, was surprised when she became the top candidate for her local team. Other potential young mayors include Sivert Refsdal (18), the Green Party’s candidate in Stange municipality, and five other candidates under the age of 26 from various municipalities. Show more
Across the pond, Joe Biden (80) once again seems to have competition from 77-year-old Donald Trump in the presidential election next year. And the average age in the Senate is all 65 years – against 45 years on The Storting.
In local politics at home in Norway, however, the situation is completely different.
VG has spoken to three mayoral candidates under the age of 21. None of them are old enough to drink alcohol in the US, but are hunting mayor chains this fall.
– It was the climate issue that first “took” me. I felt there was a lot of talk but little action. That is a large part of the reason why I am still involved, says Venstre’s mayoral candidate in Ringerike, Even Jacobsen (18) to VG about why he became politically active.
Engaged early
As a 12-year-old, he enrolled in Nature and Youth.
– The climate issue is much more urgent than it was when I started getting involved, but it is still going too slowly, he says firmly.
In Ringerike, more young people are standing for election this year. Jacobsen is not actually the only top candidate under the age of 20 in the municipality. SV’s Mina Minaie (19) is also competing for the post of mayor.
Even Jacobsen (right) celebrates pride together with party colleague and lover Sondre Lunde Hansen (right) earlier this year. Now the former is running for mayor in Ringerike. Photo: Private / Even Jacobsen
– Why is it important that young people also get involved politically?
– It is important that all groups in society are represented. It is also important that young people have someone their own age to vote for. We are the ones who will live here in the future, and are most affected by today’s politics.
The Liberal Party received only 2.7 percent support from Ringerike’s voters in 2019. Jacobsen still has faith in a good election this year.
– There is a good atmosphere in the party now, and many people I meet say they will vote Liberal.
Here you can see how Even Jacobsen responded to VG’s poll opinion!
Could be the youngest ever
One who has a better chance of ending up as mayor this autumn is the Center Party’s Marianne Rossevatn (20) from Hægebostad in Agder.
In the last election, the party got 38.5 percent of the votes in the tiny Agder municipality with 1,700 inhabitants. Sp has had the mayor in the municipality for the last eight years.
A similar result will make her Norway’s youngest ever mayor, who Everything wrote in March.
– I was very surprised. There are an incredible number of talented people in the party. It’s cool that such responsibility doesn’t just go to the elders in the party, she tells VG about what it was like to get the trust at the top of the electoral list.
ELECTION CAMPAIGN: Here is Marianne Rossevatn standing in her home municipality, with a large poster of herself. It is everyday life for a 20-year-old mayoral candidate. Photo: Private
– I clearly feel a great responsibility, and that I have something to prove, she continues.
The party has had the mayor in Hægebostad since 2015. Rossevatn himself was 12 years old then.
– The current mayor is actually a veterinarian and wants to continue with that. Then I was asked by the party to stand as a mayoral candidate. I appreciate that the work I have done over time in politics is seen, says Rossevatn, who has been active in youth politics for several years.
Here you can see how Marianne Rossevatn responded to VG’s poll!
In addition to those VG has spoken to, these young politicians are mayoral candidates and top of the list in this autumn’s election:
Inspired by Greta Thunberg
Far inside the forests of Innlandet – in Stange municipality – 18-year-old Sivert Refsdal is running as a mayoral candidate for the Green Party (MDG).
It started with a phone call from the election committee in Stange MDG half a year ago, who wanted the young politician as their top candidate for the municipal election.
– I thought I would have to stand for election, when I am so politically engaged from the start anyway, says Refsdal to VG.
Because his political commitment already started as a 13-year-old. Then he joined Natur og Ungdom, after being inspired by Greta Thunberg and her climate strikes on the other side of the border.
CLIMATE ENGAGED: The Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg inspired Sivert Refsdal to become active in Nature and Youth. Five years later, he stands as a mayoral candidate in his home municipality. Photo: Private
– One of the first things I was involved in was demonstrating for no to oil drilling in Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja outside the Labor Party’s national meeting in 2019. We emerged victorious and overturned the majority in the Storting.
– It showed that I can help influence politics, even though I am young, Refsdal reflects today.
In the municipal elections in 2019, Stange MDG received 3.7 percent support. There is thus little indication that the 18-year-old will become the Innlandet municipality’s next mayor.
– But if you still end up as mayor, which issues would you get through first?
– I want to make Stange an area neutral area neutral Area neutrality means that you should reuse and densify areas that have already been affected by interventions, rather than building down areas that are untouched. municipality. And then we will stop the development of our topsoil. We want green, vibrant villages.
Here you can see how Sivert Refsdal responded to VG’s poll opinion!
… and here you can vote yourself, for your own municipality.
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Published: 06.08.23 at 09:51
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2023-08-06 07:51:51
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