Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes
Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes (born 4 June 1975 in Tromsø) is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. He has been the party's deputy leader since 2019 and an MP for Troms since 2013.
Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Deputy Leader of the Socialist Left Party | |
| Assumed office 30 March 2019 | |
| Leader | Audun Lysbakken Kirsti Bergstø |
| Preceded by | Snorre Valen |
| Member of the Storting | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2013 | |
| Constituency | Troms |
| Deputy Member of the Storting | |
| In office 1 October 2001 – 30 September 2005 | |
| Constituency | Troms |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 June 1975 Tromsø, Troms, Norway |
| Education | Philosophy |
| Alma mater | University of Tromsø |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
Fylkenes was born in Tromsø, but spent two years of his childhood in Botswana from 1983 to 1985. He has been communications advisor for Norwegian Nurses Organisation and communications leader for the Norwegian technology council.
Political career
Parliament
Fylkesnes was elected as a deputy member to the Storting in the 2001 election, which he was for only one term. He was later elected a regular member in the 2013 election and has won re-election since. In parliament, he was a member of the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs from 2013 until December 2015 when he moved to the Committee on Business and Industry.[1]
Deputy leader
On 30 March 2019, he was elected deputy leader of the Socialist Left Party, succeeding Snorre Valen. He won with 108 votes against 100 for his opponent, Kari Elisabeth Kaski.[2]
Few days before the 2021 election, Aftenposten revealed that Fylkesnes had owned a parliamentary apartment for free while also owning and renting an apartment in Oslo since 2013. He stated that he wasn't concerned how the ownership of the Oslo apartment would effect his economic status. He also argued that being an MP in an uncertain job, and that he wanted a place for his family to live, which is why they wished to keep the apartment.[3]
Fylkesnes joined the Socialist Left Party's negotiating team to form a new government on 27 September 2021 in Hurdal. He vowed to contribute effectively, "take quick decisions and whatever it takes".[4]
Following his party's withdrawal from government negotiations on 29 September, Fylkesnes was appointed to head a negotiation unit in the Storting.[5]
In August 2022, he was open to his party withdrawing their cooperation with the Støre government on the state budget for 2023 if they went ahead with an electricity support package to the business industry.[6]
After Audun Lysbakken announced that he would not be seeking re-election as leader, Fylkesnes was floated as a possible contender to succeed him, alongside Kirsti Bergstø and Kari Elisabeth Kaski.[7] Ultimately, Knag Fylkesnes did not seek to become leader and was instead re-elected at the 2023 party convention, continuing under Kirsti Bergstø.[8]
References
- "Fylkesnes, Torgeir Knag ( 1975- )" (in Norwegian). Stortinget.no. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- "Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes valgt til nestleder i SV. – Synd med en ledelse uten sterk miljøprofil, mener motkandidaten" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- "SVs nestleder fikk gratis stortingsleilighet – eier og leier ut bolig i Oslo" (in Norwegian). NRK Troms og Finnmark. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- "Den rødgrønne trioen utvider delegasjonene på Hurdal" (in Norwegian). ABC Nyheter. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- "Fylkesnes blir SVs nye forhandlings-boss" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- "Åpner for å skrote samarbeidet" (in Norwegian). Børsen Dagbladet. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- "Var i konflikt med Kirsti Bergstø: − For meg er hun ikke noen lederkandidat" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- "Kirsti Bergstø er SVs nye partileder" (in Norwegian). NRK. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.