Earlier this year, the Norwegian government finally took the controversial decision to dispossess Longyearbyen’s inhabitants who don’t have Norwegian passports off the local voting rights, except a very few who have spent at least three years as registered inhabitants of a mainland community. click here for more details of the history of the whole thing.
By now, some of the consequences of this drastic decision are becoming more clear, although the first local elections under the new legislation will not be before the fall of 2023. Then, about 700 former voters will not be able to take part in the elections, according to NRK. This concerns both voters and candidates, such as Olivia Ericson from Sweden, who will not be able to line up again in 2023.
Longyearbyen Lokalstyre: about to thin out in 2023.
Longyearbyen has something near 2500 inhabitants. This is the total number, including many who are not yet of full age anyway or who have not yet lived in Longyearbyen for three years, which has always been a requirement to vote. The actual number of voters is accordingly lower. 700 voters who lose their voting rights accordingly represent something near one third. Future local councils will thus lose a lot of democratic legitimation. It is also feared that many will feel as second class citizens and hence reduce their commitment to local matters.
Another consequence is that smaller parties may not be able to line up anymore for elections in the future. Parties must have at least seven candidates to take part in elections, and smaller parties have always struggled to meet this requirement in a small place such as Longyearbyen. The local Green party MDG (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) has now announced to not line up anymore for the 2023 elections. In 2019, three of their candidates were foreigners, including Olivia Ericson from Sweden. Ericson and other people are shocked and frustrated to be deprived of their democratic rights. There may be more parties who will drop out for the same reason, for example Fremskrittspartiet (FrP).
Several current members of the local council, including current mayor (lokalstyreleder) Arild Olsen, have announced that they will quit in 2023 because of the new legal situation, according to NRK.
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.