Kamzy Gunaratnam, free from Korona, is seeking a parliamentary seat for Oslo Ap

Oslo Deputy Mayor Kamzy Gunaratnam (Labor Party) would like to be in the Storting, but will not respond if he comes forward for a party vote.

Friday is the first day that Oslo’s Deputy Mayor Kamzy Gunaratnam (32) comes out of isolation after catching the crown.

– So you didn’t follow all the advice of City Council Leader Raymond Johansen?

– I should follow the infection control advice to the best of my ability. Even the best can make mistakes, he laughs.

Gunaratnam claims that he has done everything Raymond asks us to do: keep his distance and wash his hands.

She even posted the message that she was infected on social media. The reactions came quickly. Many wrote that they thought he was brave and would not say so publicly.

– It’s very stupid that there is so much shame around this. So how are we going to prevent and help if there is no transparency? He asks.

Now, it is never appropriate to get sick. Especially not when one is fighting for a place on the Labor Party’s parliamentary list in Oslo.

More women than places

A minority on the nominating committee has Gunaratnam in a safe fourth place. Most love LO leader Trine Lise Sundnes.

These days, the match teams are processing the roster proposal. The nominating committee will present the final proposal. It will be decided at the nomination meeting on December 1.

On the male side, the match has been canceled. Frode Jacobsen, leader of the Oslo Labor Party, now says yes to fifth place. Leave the third safe place to the representative of the Storting, Espen Barth Eide.

There are three women in two safe places: Gunaratnam, Sundnes and Zaineb Al Samarai (33). The latter is nominated as number two, behind party leader Jonas Gahr Støre.

Now you can vote for second and fourth place.

Think Norway should be more like Oslo

– Why do you want to be at the Storting?

– I’ve been in the city council for 13 years. The last five years as deputy mayor in office. I believe that what we have achieved in Oslo in terms of working life, education and climate are modern solutions that should be implemented at the national level. I am prepared to contribute to that. We will take power from the bluest government we have had in many years, says Gunaratnam.

He was born in Sri Lanka and his real name was Khamshajiny. The defunct proofreading departments send a heartfelt thanks to Grorud’s friends for shortening it to Kamzy. A name that she has officially adopted herself.

At age 19, he became a member of the city council. At age 27 he became deputy mayor. The youngest of all.

– Are you a political chick?

– No, answer in cash.

He has worked on the Sparebankstiftelsen television campaign and worked for Oslo Ap.

– The important thing is that in politics there are people with different backgrounds. It wouldn’t be good if everyone had the same background as me, he adds.

I work like an old library

Arrows in polls point in the wrong direction, both domestically and in Oslo. Few parties have shown dirty laundry with more enthusiasm than the Labor Party. Organizational culture has received a high grade.

– You said ‘The Labor Party is a bit like an old library. Yes, the further you go, the less you feel. “What do you mean?

– There is a lot of good politics in the Labor Party. But the organizational structure is cumbersome. Part of the reason is that the Labor Party is used to ruling. We haven’t spent enough time creating a party where everyone feels at home, bringing people from different backgrounds, he explains.

Gunaratnam thus started Generation Y. A project in the Labor Party that was to activate and recruit people between 25 and 35 years old who did not enter the traditional path through the AUF.

She, who is a survivor from Utøya, is quick to add that there is nothing wrong with AUF and their recruitment.

– But we see that this so-called generation Y is lacking in politics. There is a hole there, she says.

Later, Gunaratnam also started the “I should be quiet” campaign to get more girls on the charts.

– But is there a gender quota?

– Exactly, but it is the case that women almost always constitute the “40 percent” where the requirement is at least 40 percent of each gender, he answers.

Now these two organizing initiatives have spread to the rest of the Labor Party.

Vote for the party or not?

– You are now heading to the party vote in the Oslo Labor Party, are you waiting for it?

You, why is it always the case that when there are several candidates in the Labor Party, it is always called personal struggle, while in other parties it is called personal debate?

– But does it depend on the party’s vote?

– That with the vote of the party I have not decided. Now, the nominating committee will do its job first. But I think it’s good that there are more people in the Labor Party competing for seats. It would be bad if there were always enough candidates to fill the vacancies.