Confidence in politicians is declining among those left out – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

Trust in Norwegian politicians is declining among those who previously had the least trust. It shows a report that is delivered on Tuesday morning to the Minister of Local Government, Nikolai Astrup (H).

Researchers from the Department of Social Research have analyzed people’s trust in politicians and the political system over time. The first part of the project was presented in April.

• Most Norwegians have great confidence in the most important political institutions.
• But among those who don’t vote, confidence is waning.

Ideally, elected representatives should reflect the public as well as possible, according to research leader Signe Bock Segaard.

I do not recognize

But those with lower education don’t have many politicians to recognize themselves in. It can affect confidence in the political system.

Because it is often people with higher social status and education who are elected to political office.

– Indicates that voters emphasize the political experience of those for whom they vote. And that can be found in those with slightly higher socioeconomic status, Segaard says.

10-14 percent of all Norwegians entitled to vote never vote in elections. It is especially those with low education and little connection to working life who have little confidence in the political system.

The Minister of Local Government is concerned

The Minister of Local Government is concerned about the development described in the report.

– It is not a problem that between 10 and 14 percent of the population does not vote. It is a problem that is the same 10-14 percent as Never votes. This means there is a group of people we cannot reach, Astrup says.

He believes that it is essential that the part of the population that has nothing to do with politics does not grow.

– Confidence in individual politicians comes and goes. But the confidence that democratic institutions are there for those of us who live in this country is incredibly important. Not least now that we are in the midst of a pandemic, trust in our institutions is crucial, Astrup says.

He gave his place to the immigrant woman

According to Astrup, politicians have a special responsibility to build trust by, among other things, working against hateful rhetoric and changing political discourse. But it is also crucial who They become politicians, Astrup believes.

And that is exactly what Solveig Skaugvoll Foss (SV) has been interested in.

This summer, he resigned from second place on the Oslo SV list for the Storting elections next year, to secure a place for third candidate Marian Hussein. As an immigrant woman, she contributes to greater diversity among SV’s Storting nominations.

But most parts have a long way to go, Foss believes.

– The first thing is perhaps to realize how important it is for democracy to have different types of politicians, he says.

Hussein is also concerned that politics needs more diversity.

– In order for someone to take power, someone must step back and be willing to give up power. We must be willing to talk about it.

The paradox

But according to the report, the majority of voters prefer politicians who are similar to other politicians.

They prefer highly educated candidates who are middle-aged and female over male. Non-religious are preferred to Christians, who in turn are preferred to Muslims.

– What should politicians do?

– Political parties have the important task of presenting a diversity of candidates. It is a task that no party can do alone, but that the political system must work with over time, Astrup says.