2017 Norwegian Sámi parliamentary election

The 2017 Norwegian Sámi parliamentary election was held on 11 September 2017. All 39 seats in the Norwegian Sámi legislature, the Sámediggi, were up for election.

2017 Norwegian Sámi parliamentary election
Sámi people
11 September 2017
All 39 seats in the Sámi Parliament
20 seats needed for a majority
Turnout70.3% Increase 2.5
PartyLeader % Seats +/–
NSR Aili Keskitalo 28.09 18 +7
Labour Ronny Wilhelmsen 16.99 9 -1
NKF Toril Bakken Kåven 6.75 3 0
Centre 7.56 2 +2
Árja Inger Eline Eriksen 7.75 1 -2
Progress Arthur Tørfoss 7.48 1 -1
Conservative 6.40 1 -1
Moving Sámi List 2.48 1 0
SáB 2.02 1 0
Åarjel-Saemiej Gielh Ellinor Marita Jåma 1.70 1 -1
Residents List 1.51 1
President of the Sámi Parliament before President of the Sámi Parliament after
Vibeke Larsen
Independent		 Aili Keskitalo
NSR

Background

Previous election

In the previous election, held on 9 September 2013, the Norwegian Sámi Association, with former President of the Sámi Parliament Aili Keskitalo as their Presidential candidate, won a plurality, with 11 of the 39 seats, including 2 on a joint list with the Sami People's Party. The Norwegian Sámi Association formed a minority administration on the Governing Council supported by the Labour Party, Árja and Åarjel-Saemiej Gielh. Keskitalo took office as President on 16 October after being elected by the Parliament. The Labour Party, which had governed from 2007, returned to the opposition.[1]

2016–17 political crisis

In December 2016, the budget proposed by Keskitalo's Governing Council was rejected by the Parliament, which instead voted for an alternative budget proposed by the Labour Party, Conservative Party, and Árja. A successful vote of no confidence followed. On 8 December 2016, Aili Keskitalo resigned and the Parliament elected Labour's Vibeke Larsen as her replacement, with a coalition consisting of Labour, the Conservative Party, and Árja.[2]

On 28 January 2017, the Labour Party held a political council to select a new Presidential candidate after the withdrawal of Helga Pedersen. Pedersen had withdrawn as Presidential candidate in December 2016 in opposition to the vote of no confidence, which she had strongly advised against and refused to defend.[3] Ronny Wilhelmsen was nominated, defeating incumbent President Vibeke Larsen by 21 votes to 17 on the second ballot.[4] Larsen subsequently announced her intention to resign as President, before announcing the next day that she would leave the Labour Party and continue as a political independent, citing a "use and throw away mentality" within the party. Larsen additionally fired Wilhlemsen as her Vice President due to a lack of trust.[5]

Presidential candidates

The Norwegian Sámi Association re-nominated Aili Keskitalo as their Presidential candidate. The Labour Party nominated Ronny Wilhelmsen, who served as Vice President of the Sámi Parliament prior to his firing in January 2017. Árja nominated Inger Eline Eriksen, member of the Governing Council. Nordkalottfolket nominated their leader, Toril Bakken Kåven.[6] Vibeke Larsen formed her own political party, Šiella, and ran is its Presidential candidate.[7]

Results
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Norwegian Sámi Association3,30328.0916+5
Labour Party1,99816.999–1
Árja9117.751–3
Centre Party8897.562+2
Progress Party8797.481–1
Nordkalottfolket7726.5730
Conservative Party7526.401–1
NSR–SáB4934.1920
Ávjovári Moving Sámi List2912.4810
Šiella2722.310New
Sámi People's Party2382.021+1
People's Federation of the Saami2041.740New
Åarjel-Saemiej Gïelh2001.701–1
Guovdageainnu Residents List1771.511New
Sámi Democrats–Šiella1171.000New
Jiehkkevárri820.700New
Sámieana780.660New
List of Permanent Residents760.650New
Socialist Left Party250.2100
Total11,757100.00390
Valid votes11,75798.36
Invalid/blank votes1961.64
Total votes11,953100.00
Registered voters/turnout16,95870.49
Source: Valgresultat.no

See also

References
  1. Berg-Nordlie, Mikkel (10 February 2022). "Sametingsvalget 2013" [The Sami Parliamentary elections 2013]. Store Norsk Leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  2. "Ap tar makten – hun blir Sametingets nye president" [Ap takes power - she becomes the Sami Parliament's new president]. NRK Sápmi (in Norwegian). NRK. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  3. Holte, Magnus Aamo (9 December 2016). "Helga Pedersen trekker seg som APs presidentkandidat til Sametinget" [Helga Pedersen withdraws as AP's presidential candidate for the Sami Parliament]. Nordlys.no (in Norwegian). Nordlys. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  4. "Vibeke Larsen går av som sametingspresident" [Vibeke Larsen is stepping down as president of the Sámi Parliament]. NRK Sápmi (in Norwegian). NRK. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  5. "Vibeke snur: Blir sittende som president, men sparker visepresidenten" [Vibeke turns around: Remains as president, but fires the vice-president]. NRK Sápmi (in Norwegian). NRK. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  6. Berg-Nordlie, Mikkel (30 August 2021). "Sametingsvalget 2017" [The Sami Parliamentary elections 2017]. Store Norsk Leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  7. "Vibeke Larsens nye valgliste: Šiella" [Vibeke Larsen's new election list: Šiella]. NRK Sápmi (in Norwegian). NRK. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
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