Audun Lysbakken
Audun Lysbakken Minister of Children and Equality | |
---|---|
In office 20 October 2009 – 5 March 2012 | |
Prime Minister | Jens Stoltenberg |
Preceded by | Anniken Huitfeldt |
Succeeded by | Inga Marte Thorkildsen |
Member of the Storting | |
Assumed office 1 October 2009 | |
Deputy | Gina Barstad |
Constituency | Hordaland |
In office 1 October 2001 – 30 September 2005 | |
Constituency | Hordaland |
Deputy Leader of the Socialist Left Party | |
In office 18 February 2006 – 11 March 2012 | |
Leader | Kristin Halvorsen |
Preceded by | Øystein Djupedal |
Succeeded by | Inga Marte Thorkildsen |
Personal details | |
Born | Bergen, Hordaland, Norway | 30 September 1977
Political party | Socialist Left |
Spouse | Siv Mjaaland |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Bergen Handelsgymnasium University of Bergen |
Audun Bjørlo Lysbakken (born 30 September 1977) is a Norwegian politician who served as the leader of the Norwegian
Early life and education
Lysbakken is the son of actor Sigurd Lysbakken (1947–1994) and cultural worker and author Geirdis Bjørlo (1952). He attended primary school at Møhlenpris elementary school (1984–1993), and high school at Bergen Handelsgymnasium (1993–1996). He has university minors in French and comparative politics from the University of Bergen (1996–1998). After his university studies, he performed mandatory civil service instead of conscript military duty, serving as a secretary at Norsk Økologisk Landbrukslag and as a journalist in the daily Klassekampen 2000–2001.[1]
Political career
Early career
Lysbakken held various posts in the youth NGOs
Lysbakken's first public office was as member of the Bergen City Council in 1999–2000. He was elected to the
Parliament
He was elected a member of the Storting from Hordaland following the 2001 election. He served until 2005, and was re-elected in the 2009 election. He was re-elected in 2013, 2017 and 2021. In January 2024, he announced that he wouldn't seek re-election in the 2025 election.[5]
Government office
In 2009, Lysbakken reclaimed a seat in Parliament from Hordaland, and was appointed to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. He was named parliamentary leader of his party group,[6] but was shortly thereafter appointed as Minister of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion in Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet on 20 October 2009, as the first man to hold this post. When Lysbakken was appointed to the ministry, his deputy Gina Barstad took his place in Parliament.
During Lysbakken's term in office, he oversaw an increase in the funding of child protection services by over 300 million NOK per year.
Lysbakken resigned from his office on 5 March 2012 (see "self-defense case" below).[10] On 10 March, he was elected party leader.
Party leadership
After resigning as Minister, Lysbakken resumed his duties as a representative in the Storting and the position as parliamentary leader, now holding a seat on the Parliament's Standing Committee on Health and Social Services, as well as the Enlarged Standing Committee on Foreign and Defence Affairs.[10][1] Later in the 2009-2013 assembly of the Norwegian Parliament, he moved to the Standing Committee on Schools and Education. After the 2017 election, he rejoined the Standing Committee on Foreign and Defence Affairs.[1]
Under Lysbakken's leadership, the Socialist Left Party, which had declined steadily in the polls since joining Jens Stoltenberg's "Red-Green" government, bounced back, increasing its parliamentary group after gains in the 2017 election. The party's election campaign in 2017 and Lysbakken as party leader was awarded the prize for best campaign by a panel in the publicity industry magazine Kampanje, and the media-industry newspaper Medier24.[11] Several commentators agreed that Lysbakken was the "winner" of several of the biggest televised debates.[3][4]
The campaign, focusing on issues of inequality, climate change and education, also resulted in a growth in voter share. The party gained almost 50% in the number of votes since the poor showing in the 2013 election, gaining 4 new seats in Parliament and 176.000 votes, corresponding to a 6,0 % voter share.[12] Party membership rose in parallel. In early 2018, the party had over 11.000 members, the highest number since the early nineties.[3]
Lysbakken led the party into 2021 election, with the campaign focusing on tackling climate change and inequality. His party went onto win 2 more seats, increasing the seat count to 13. He was open to forming a red-green government with the Labour and Centre parties, and led the party's delegation in the pre-negotiations in Hurdal starting on 23 September. However, on 29 September, Lysbakken announced that his party would withdraw from negotiations, notably citing disagreements with the Labour and Centre Party on issues of petroleum and welfare. He reassured that the party was open to re-start negotiations at a later point in time, and added that the party would be going into opposition.[13][14]
On 9 November 2022, Lysbakken announced that he wouldn't seek re-election as party leader and step down at the next party convention in March 2023, citing family reasons.[15] Lysbakken was succeeded by his deputy leader, Kirsti Bergstø, at the party convention in March.[16]
"Self-defense" case
In January 2012, the newspaper
In the wake of the disclosure, Lysbakken's conflict of interest in the allocation of funds to the NGO Reform, where he had been a member of the board until assuming his ministerial post, also came to attention.
His conduct was labeled "political corruption" by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International's Norwegian branch,[24] a position that was echoed by scholar Petter Gottschalk.[25] Professor of Law, Jan Fridthjof Bernt, however, asserted that while the case was clearly one of poor practice, there were no signs of criminal action.[26] Based on statements by Lysbakken, alleging that "this could have happened in many ministries", the Parliament initiated a wide-reaching inquiry into the ministries' allocations to external beneficiaries. During this inquiry's final hearing, Lysbakken was lauded by opposition leader of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, Anders Anundsen, for taking his constitutional responsibility and resigning, and his successor Inga Marte Thorkildsen received praise for taking measures "which could make one of the worst ministries into one of the best" in its allocation practices. The inquiry exposed irregularities in the allocation practices of several ministries.[27]
Political views
In his 2015 book, Frihet Sammen (Freedom Together), Lysbakken describes himself as a
Earlier, as deputy leader of the Socialist Youth, Lysbakken described himself as a
Personal life
He is married to Siv Mjaaland, and the couple have three children. Mjaaland has a son from a previous relationship.[36]
References
- ^ a b c d "Audun Lysbakken" (in Norwegian). Storting. (Official parliament biography)
- ^ Norsk Telegrambyrå/abcnyheter.no. 5 March 2012. Archived from the originalon 13 April 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ a b c "SV-jubel over kraftig medlemsvekst" [SV rejoices over membership growth] (in Norwegian). Dagens Næringsliv. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ a b "SV vokser videre etter godt valg" [SV continues to grow after good elections] (in Norwegian). Vårt Land. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ "Gir seg" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- Norsk Telegrambyrå/Verdens Gang. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ "Barnevernsløftet" [Strengthening of Child Protection Services] (in Norwegian). The Norwegian Government. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ Ekeberg, Emilie (2 January 2012). "Two out of three want to abolish the father's quota" [To av tre vil fjerne fedrekvoten]. Klassekampen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ Lode, Veslemøy (25 October 2011). "Slik blir den nye foreldrepermisjonen" [This is the new parental leave]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ Norsk Rikskringkasting. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ Gard L. Michalsen (9 September 2017). "Fire intense uker og mange debatter senere: Audun Lysbakken er valgkampens klare vinner" [Four intense weeks and many debates later: Audun Lysbakken is the best campaigner of this election season] (in Norwegian). Medier24. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ "Valget 2017: Slik beveget velgerne seg" [The 2017 Elections: These are the voter exchanges]. Norwegian Institute for Social Research. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ "Valgresultat for Norge - Valg 2021" (in Norwegian). NRK. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "SV bryter sonderingene på Hurdal: − Stor skuffelse" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "Audun Lysbakken (SV) stiller ikke til gjenvalg: − Det koster" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ "Kirsti Bergstø er SVs nye partileder" (in Norwegian). NRK. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ a b c Tore Bergsaker; Marie Melgård (25 January 2012). "Ga voldtektspenger til sine egne" [Gave rape money to his own] (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- Norsk Rikskringkasting. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ Viseth, Ellen (25 February 2012). "Anundsen vil kreve svar fra Lysbakken om selvforsvarspenger" [Anundsen will demand answers from Lysbakken regarding self-defense money]. VG.no (in Norwegian).
- ^ Gunnar Stavrum; Ole Eikeland (5 March 2012). "Båndet som felte Lysbakken" [The connection that felled Lysbakken] (in Norwegian). NA24. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ NTB (25 February 2012). "Åpner sak mot Lysbakken" [Inquiry opened on Lysbakken]. Vg.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- Norsk Telegrambyrå. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ Gedde-Dahl, Siri (8 March 2012). "Audun Lysbakkens departementsråd går av" [Audun Lysbakken's permanent secretary resigns]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ Tandstad, Bent (25 February 2012). "Dette er politisk korrupsjon" [This is political corruption]. Nrk.no (in Norwegian).
- ^ NTB. "Professor mener Lysbakken-bevilgning er korrupsjon". Aftenposten.no. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ Dag Håkon Hellevik (29 February 2012). "Uryddig, men ikke ulovlig" [Poor practice, but not illegal] (in Norwegian). Ukeavisen ledelse. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ Bergsaker, Tore; Kristiansen, Bjørn S. (10 January 2013). "Hyllet Lysbakken for at han gikk av" [Praised Lysbakken for resigning]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ISBN 9788205480940.
- ^ Veslemøy Lode (27 April 2009). "SV-nestleder vil la folket kreve nyvalg" [Socialist Left deputy leader wants to give the people the right to recall parliament] (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012..
- ISBN 978-82-92866-13-9.
- ^ Johansen, Marianne (29 November 2005). "SV-nestleder vil fjerne børsen" [Socialist Left deputy leader wants to abolish the stock exchange]. Verdens Gang (in Norwegian).
- Minerva.no (in Norwegian). Archived from the originalon 23 July 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ Håkon Gundersen (2 December 2005). "Rakrygget slangemenneske" [Contortionist with a spine] (in Norwegian). Morgenbladet. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ Per Anders Johansen; et al. (21 October 2009). "Stoltenbergs marxist" [Stoltenberg's marxist] (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ Marie Melgård (19 September 2011). "Vil bli en samlende leder" [Will become unifying leader] (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 5 June 2012..
- ^ "Babyglede for Audun Lysbakken: Venter nytt barn" (in Norwegian). VG. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.