In spite of a «mediocre » election result, the left-wing group Venstrealliansen may fill the role of the Student Parliament leader

2006-05-03 På norsk

Lina Johanne Strand from Venstrealliansen appears to be the only relevant candidate to replace Maria Veie Sandvik from Fakultetslistene as leader of the Student Parliament at the University of Oslo. Even though Venstrealliansen only got nine out of 47 seats, the political group farthest to the left may still obtain leadership seeing as how Sosialdemokratene, Moderat Gruppe and Fakultetslistene are all unable to field their own candidates.

- We are holding our final nomination meeting this week, but the chances that we can produce a candidate are slim, Torkel Nybakk Kvaal from Sosialdemokratene says.

- No member of our group has shown any interest in running for leader. Suffice to say, we don’t have a candidate either, Iselin A. Rud-Goksøyr from Fakultetslistene says.

And Kristian Meisingset, representing Moderat Gruppe, is straight to the point:

- No, we do not have a candidate, he says.

The only other political group showing leadership ambitions is Morbus Medicus representing the Faculty of Medicine, with its four seats.

- We are considering going for all the various roles in the working committee. We are a bit short of candidates to fill this committee completely, so we would have to get hold of somebody from the outside, leader Petter Risøe says, who nevertheless has no obvious leader candidate.

- That is still undecided. Or, we haven’t put much thought into it. We have by and large been discussing whether or not we are going to run, he says.

However, a solution like this would be highly irregular. Consequently, there is, in all probability, a grand coalition in the offing. I would almost say as always. And this time around with Lina Johanne Strand as the front runner. However, she takes nothing for granted.

- There are negotiations to be had, and nobody knows exactly what will happen before the entire process is over. I will be running, but I don’t take anything for granted, she says.

Universitas is able to inform that representatives from other political groups have encouraged Strand to run. Furthermore, a few of Venstrealliansen`s members have given the impression that they are now «sacrificing themselves» so that there is at least one candidate for leadership in the Student Parliament.

- Will this be like the Socialist Left Party of Norway in Government?

- That there is not going to be a «majority government » is a challenge. There will of course be matters of judgment in the event that the majority of the Student Parliament has a complete difference of opinion than that of Venstrealliansen. But if I keep it together, I think it’ll be alright, Strand replies.

Sindre Granly Meldalen • Marius Nergård Pettersen (photo) • Translated by Egil Ellenes