The Sys­sel­man­nen is the hig­hest repre­sen­ta­ti­ve of the Nor­we­gi­an govern­ment in Spits­ber­gen. Curr­ent­ly, Kjers­tin Askholt holds this posi­ti­on as the second woman in histo­ry. The posi­ti­on is cal­led Sys­sel­man­nen no mat­ter if a woman or a man is in office.

Accor­ding to new Nor­we­gi­an law, all offi­ci­al names for govern­men­tal insti­tu­ti­ons will have to be gen­der-neu­tral as of next year. This tur­ned out to be a bit of a chall­enge regar­ding the Sys­sel­man­nen. Ide­as dis­cus­sed in public included fun­ny words such as Sys­selshe­riff or Sys­sel­høv­ding (-chief), but not­hing real­ly useful.

Sys­sel­mann beco­mes Sys­sel­mes­ter in 2021.

Now a descis­i­on has been made: Sys­sel­man­nen will be chan­ged to Sys­sel­mes­ter. All invol­ved appear to be hap­py with this solu­ti­on. The Sys­sel­man­nen is also poli­ce chief or, in Nor­we­gi­an, poli­ti­mes­ter (poli­ce mas­ter), some­thing goes well along with the new desi­gna­ti­on.

From 01 July 2021, the Sys­sel­man­nen will be histo­ry and Oslo’s hig­hest repre­sen­ta­ti­ve in Sval­bard will be the Sys­sel­mes­ter from then on. A lot of work still needs to be done until the old desi­gna­ti­on has dis­ap­peared from all offi­ci­al logos on paper, on means of trans­port, of which the Sysselmannen/Sysselmester has an ama­zing amount, and else­whe­re.