Jonas Gahr Støre, Tonje Brenna and Jan Christian Vestre as well as party secretary Kjersti Stenseng will continue to lead Ap. All were applauded by a jubilant national meeting.
There was no battle at the national meeting for the seats in the Labor Party’s leadership. All the candidates proposed by the selection committee were elected uncontested. No opposing candidates ran.
In this way, the Labor Party avoided a battle for votes and open division over those who will lead the party for the next two years.
The leadership group of four could raise their hands in the air and celebrate to cheers from a national meeting, apparently, in unison.
NTB-Steinar Schjetne reports on the case on Friday afternoon.
Dear National Assembly, first for my own part, from the bottom of my soul, from the bottom of my heart, my entire political commitment, thank you very much for the trust, said Jonas Gahr Støre (62) after receiving renewed acceptancet.
The election committee’s leader, LO leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik, had twice strongly emphasised that the election committee’s recommendation was unanimous and that by changing one element, one was in danger of upsetting the entire balance and thereby forcing other changes.
It was a clear call to those who might have considered opposing the setting vote, not to do so.
They wanted to avoid anything that might resemble influence from the grassroots and ordinary members. So it was.
Sturgeon was not to be touched
Despite some turbulence around the leadership cabal in the party, no one ever questioned Støre’s leadership position. In practice, he was the only one in the party leadership who could go to the national meeting confident that his position was secure.
Even he is what many believe is the party’s biggest problem as of today, as party veteran Thorbjørn Berntsen has so clearly spoken about. See case below.
The LO leader’s speech in support of Støre bore the mark of a form of tribute. Many will associate this to the way state leaders are referred to in countries with a different type of social system:
His speech to the national meeting yesterday shows that we have a leader who can lead. A leader with feelings, with visions and with a plan, said Følsvik when she read out the selection committee’s rationale.
In addition to Støre being re-elected as leader for two new years, the national meeting welcomed the two new deputy leaders Tonje Brenna (35) and Jan Christian Vestre (36).
I am proud of an attitude that shows the whole world that the Utøya generation will of course be involved in governing – Norway and the Labor Party, now and in the future. We promised that we would never give up the fight and now we stand by that promise. It arouses many emotions, and it feels very, very right said Følsvik.
Former deputy leader and Northern Norway’s man, Bjørnar Skjæran, is quietly disappearing into the shadows. These are new times now.
Støre: – Historic election of deputy leaders
Støre has referred to the election of deputy leaders Brenna and Vestre as historic.
Both Brenna and Vestre have a background from AUF and were on Utøya during Breivik’s terrorist attack.
Tonje Brenna has a wise head, is an operative problem solver and committed ideologue. She is known for liking people and for people to like her. She has shown that she can take responsibility and lead, even in the most demanding times, said Følsvik, clearly referring to the role Brenna took during the shooting on Utøya.
Jan Christian Vestre has shown himself to be a person with political flair, a unique ability to engage and gather people. He has broad experience from politics and business, he enjoys respect across parties, the trade union movement and business.
Party secretary for eight years, Kjersti Stenseng, was re-elected to what NTB refers to as cheering calls.