More immigrants on municipal councils

The number of immigrants elected to municipal councils is increasing. After this year’s election, six percent of representatives in municipal councils are immigrants, compared to two percent two years ago.

 However, the number of women remains the same, according to Statistics Norway.

The results from this year’s municipal elections show that 628 candidates are immigrants. That’s an increase of 405 candidates from the previous election.

This is a big step in the right direction, says Sunniva Ørstavik, Equality and Anti-discrimination Ombud.

Of all the candidates, 414 percent have a background from the EU or European Economic Area (EEA), North America and Oceania. 214 representatives have a background from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and countries in Europe outside the EU/EEA.

The results also show a stronger correlation between the ratio of immigrant voters and representatives. The Socialist Left party (SV) has the highest number of immigrant voters, at 10.2 percent compared to 7.7 percent two years ago.

Still, Ørstavik is disappointed that not more representatives are women. "I think that a larger number of women and more diversity in the municipal councils would contribute to an increase in different perspectives," she says.

The Socialist Left (SV) is the only party with a majority of female representatives, followed by the Labor Party (AP) with 44 percent. The Progress Party (FrP) has the lowest share of female representatives at 27 percent.

(NRK)

Julie Ryland

Tuesday, 20 December 2011 07:47