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– The civil authorization authority tells me that the reason I do not receive a renewed security authorization is that my wife is a Chinese citizen and lives in China, where I support her financially, says Jon Nicolaisen himself in a press release.
Norges Bank informs NRK that the message from the Civil Authorization Authority (SKM) arrived on November 20.
According to Norges Bank, Nicolaisen has been married to the Chinese woman since 2010 and told the bank about the marriage that same year. Nicolaisen was acquitted when he took office as lieutenant governor on April 1, 2014.
SKM’s message arrived in November
In 2019, the Ministry of Finance announced that Nicolaisen’s security clearance should be renewed. This work started at the end of 2019 and finally ended with the rejection of SKM.
– At the same time, they claim that it is not the conditions in me personally that create doubts about my suitability for safety, but that this does not weigh enough. Now I have had to face the consequences of this, continues the deputy governor of the outgoing central bank.
He does not want to give a quiet interview or comment further on the case, Norges Bank tells NRK.
Director Gudmund Gjølstad of the Civil Dispatch Authority will not comment on individual cases. Speak generally with NRK.
– What I can say is that the authorization was granted on an earlier date and, in that sense, the employer submitted a request for a declaration. When it is disclosed, all the information is reviewed again, with a comprehensive new assessment based on any changes, Gjølstad tells NRK.
– Has anything happened since the previous authorization that means that Nicolaisen has not been declared?
– It does not necessarily have to mean, without my wanting to say something concrete about what is the case in this case, says Gjølstad.
Processing of the case has taken longer than normal
It says that even external factors can cause a person to lose authorization.
– It is the case that we make an assessment of the person who is going to be acquitted of their suitability for security. If we assume that the risk is too great, then we cannot provide authorization. This doesn’t necessarily mean there is something to blame on the main character, but there may be other factors that are the reason you didn’t get clearance, says Gjølstad.
– In general, why a Chinese spouse may be the reason for not receiving security clearance?
– Having a Chinese spouse will never be the only reason for loss of security clearance. However, there may be factors associated with this that affect the safety adequacy assessment. We do not have a schematic approach and it is not the case that it is evaluated based on the country in which you have a spouse, but there are other factors associated with it: connection with other countries, risk of being exposed to pressure, which influences in the decision.
Gained renewed confidence in March
According to Gjølstad, Nicolaisen’s cleaning process has taken longer than normal, which he calls regrettable. SKM started the process in 2019.
– Most of our cases are resolved in less than a month, and we also have a certain volume of cases that require us to obtain more information. One of the steps in case processing that can contribute to a lengthy time is having security interviews conducted.
– What is a security call?
– A security interview is a step that is carried out in the cases that are necessary to clarify matters, and provide information that both the protagonist and other sources have presented to us.
– If the dispatching authority needs to conduct a security interview to properly report the case, then it is done. This is not done in all cases, nor in all cases that receive a negative decision, and then it is because the case is sufficiently informed in other ways, says Gjølstad.
Nicolaisen’s goal originally expired on April 1 of this year. In March, he regained confidence and is scheduled to sit until the end of 2023. Since April, he has had a special responsibility to follow up on the Oil Fund.
It has not been decided what kind of role Nicolaisen will play in the future.
– Was marriage an issue when Nicolaisen shifted from responsibility for monetary policy to responsibility for the Oil Fund earlier this spring?
– Both roles require the same security rating, Norges Bank responds in an email to NRK.
It has not been decided what kind of role Nicolaisen will play in the future, according to Norges Bank:
– Jon Nicolaisen has been on leave from Norges Bank during his time as Lieutenant Governor. Given the situation that has arisen, we ask for your understanding that Norges Bank and Nicolaisen should return to their situation in the future after a comprehensive evaluation. The bank’s day-to-day operations will continue as normal. Other members of the organization take over the duties of the lieutenant governor in the day-to-day management of Norges Bank, the bank writes in an email to NRK.
He was asked to resign immediately
The Finance Ministry does not want to comment on the press release that arrived on Friday, but writes this in an email to NRK:
– Since the Civil Authorization Authority was established in Spring 2018, we have asked Norges Bank to send all authorization requests for Norges Bank employees directly to SKM. Therefore, Norges Bank is one of the so-called applicant companies and manages the processes related to the collateral settlement itself. Norges Bank is also responsible for empowering deputy central bank governors, writes the Finance Ministry in the email.
Based on the refusal to renew the security clearance, the Ministry of Finance removed Nicolaisen from his post today. Nicolaisen then asked to resign from the position with immediate effect, the ministry writes.
The ministry also writes that the search for a successor will begin immediately.
Central Bank Governor Øystein Olsen says he will miss his deputy governor.
Photograph: Hallvard Norum / NRK
– You will miss Jon Nicolaisen
Central Bank Governor Øystein Olsen says he takes note of the Finance Ministry’s decision.
– I will miss Jon Nicolaisen as Lieutenant Governor, a position he has performed excellently as a close colleague and a qualified professional. Through key positions at the bank, over several years he has made a significant contribution to the development of Norges Bank, Øystein Olsen says in a press release.
Nicolaisen has worked most of his professional career at the Ministry of Finance and Norges Bank.
At the “bank,” as it is called in financial circles, he has worked since 1995. With the exception of three years of leave, 2003-2006, Nicolaisen has been there in various positions since then.
