In one year, local elections will take place. Naturally, all Norwegian citizens, as well as residents from Sweden and Denmark living in the municipality as of June 1 of the election year, have the right to vote in local elections. The Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) has also decided that other foreign citizens who have lived in Norway for at least three years may also vote. These are rules that SV (the Socialist Left Party) fully supports.
According to the Constitution, foreign citizens cannot vote in parliamentary elections because security and foreign policy are national matters. SV agrees with this as well.
Recently, FrP (the Progress Party) proposed a motion to remove the right of foreign residents to vote in local elections. FrP is, of course, entitled to hold that view, but we in SV believe it is a poor proposal.
There are currently 4,000 foreign residents in Askøy. Most of them work, pay taxes and municipal fees, take part in voluntary activities, and are good neighbours and friends. Their families have children in kindergartens and schools. They play football and take part in cultural activities.
For us in SV, it is entirely reasonable that they should be allowed to have a say in who sits on the municipal council, influence the level of municipal fees, determine where schools should be located, and affect the services we receive.
It is difficult to see what problem FrP wishes to solve with this proposal. We believe it could be useful to shift the debate away from tabloid headlines and look at the actual impact of the proposal.
Askøy has long benefited greatly from the contributions of Spaniard Rafael Cobo Garrido. He came to Norway in the 1990s. In 2001, he settled in Askøy and has lived here with his family ever since. He joined the municipal council in 2009, where he served until this year. He did not obtain Norwegian citizenship until 2021.
In addition to being a politician, Rafael has been active in clubs and organisations throughout all these years. He has worked and paid taxes like everyone else. What is FrP’s problem?
Rania Fraij currently sits on the board of Askøy SV. She came to Norway in 2005, found work in a shop in 2006, and a little later worked as a school assistant. Alongside her job, she completed her teacher training and currently works as a special education teacher in the school system. She is employed, pays taxes, and is active in her free time and in organisations. Under FrP’s proposal, she too would lose the right to participate in local elections.
Askøy SV had three other foreign citizens on its election list in 2023. One is a student, one works for the municipality and volunteers, while the third holds a position of responsibility in the healthcare sector.
SV wants these people to retain their right to vote. They are not a problem; rather, they contribute to prosperity and growth. There is no reason to exclude these resourceful individuals from participating in local democracy.
SV wants integration and community, not just in celebratory speeches, but also in practical politics. For us, it is important that we are all able to take part in developing society. To achieve this, participation in democracy is necessary.
A resident is a resident, no matter what. Removing the local voting rights of people who contribute to their communities would be a step backwards. SV will work to ensure that foreign citizens retain their local voting rights exactly as they are today.
Åge Rosnes
Elected Representative for SV
