On Thursday, Siv Jensen informed the Progress Party’s (FRP) national board that she is resigning as leader and will not stand for re-election to the Norwegian parliament (Storting).
“This choice has not been easy, but I am convinced that it is the right choice,” Jensen said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
She added that she has been considering the decision for a long time. However, she denies that the party’s bad results in the opinion polls are the reason for her resignation.
“Actually, the will to fight woke up again with today’s bad polling numbers. That is not the reason for my decision at all,” Jensen explained.
Wants Listhaug to succeed her
Jensen recommends that Sylvi Listhaug be the party’s next leader, although she emphasizes that she cannot choose her successor.
In addition, she recommends that Ketil Solvik-Olsen be the first deputy leader.
“I am convinced that Sylvi and Ketil are the right choices as leader and first deputy leader now. The party needs unity and a steady course, to be one team.”
“It is time that others, who are willing to work night and day, all year round for the party, take over the baton,” Jensen said.
Party career
Jensen is resigning after 15 years as party leader. Siv Jensen took over after Carl I. Hagen as party leader in 2006.
She took the FRP into the government in 2013, served as finance minister from 2013 to 2020, and took the party out of the government and into the opposition again in January 2020.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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