Solheim wants Lysbakken as new SV leader

Audun Lysbakken is the current deputy leader of SV.

Erik Solheim said two years ago that party colleague Audun Lysbakken should get ready to be the new leader of the SV.

Now he hopes the party’s leader-issue will be resolved quickly, with Lysbakken as the front-runner for the postion.

“Audun is by far the most talented politician of his generation, and I mean far beyond the SV. Two years ago I asked him to get ready to take over from Kristin (Halvorsen),” said former SV leader Erik Solheim to Aftenposten.

According to the newspaper, Solheim, who today is the Minister for the Environment and Development, already knew a couple of years ago that the outgoing party leader Kristin Halvorsen was going to retire as chairman at about this time. 34-year-old Lysbakken, according to Solheim, has a unique experience, and  has been a member of Parliament, the Council and has extensive contacts with popular organizations.

“Audun will have a unifying effect. He has broad support, and also has the ability to chat with people. He will be the next SV leader, I am quite sure. He would win the competition for leader, regardless of method, referendum or not. What we need now is a discussion about the political course. This is a talk he should be leading the way in,” said Mr Solheim.

Erik Solheim will not ask Heikki Holmås to withdraw his candidacy, but reiterates that the discussions in the future must be about politics and the party’s political course.

Source: NRK

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