Terje Søviknes
Encyclopedia
Terje Søviknes is a Norwegian politician
, and the first politician of the Progress Party
to become mayor
of a Norwegian municipality, namely Os, Hordaland
. He was also a deputy member to the Norwegian Parliament from 1997 to 2001.
, Norway
to metalworker Eirik Søviknes (born 1939) and shop employee Gunn Drange (born 1942). He is married and has two children.
, and was considered as a possible successor to Carl I. Hagen
as chairman of the party. He however became controversial after an incident at a party congress in 2001 where he had committed adultery
with a 16 year old intoxicated member of the Youth of the Progress Party
. Søviknes is still mayor of Os and did not lose his local support after the incident. In fact, the support for the Progress Party in Os, from the 1999 local elections
to the 2003 local elections
increased from 36.6 to 45.7% (the highest share of votes for the party in a municipality for the election).
Os has since by himself and the media
been seen as a showcase municipality for the Progress Party. This is as he in his first term as mayor achieved full kindergarten
coverage, full nursing home
coverage and started a program of well-being and health journeys to Spain
and related locations. It was also established a "full" stop of immigration and a local Vinmonopol
store. Successful in being consecutively elected as mayor from 2003 to 2007, in this term the main issues was development of the city centre
, better drug addiction recovery programs, development of schools and construction of a waterpark. While the municipality was struggling with large deficits before Søviknes became mayor, this has since been turned into a significant surplus
as of 2004. His successful career as mayor of Os has gained him the nickname the "Wizard of Os" by the media.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and the first politician of the Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
to become mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of a Norwegian municipality, namely Os, Hordaland
Os, Hordaland
Os is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Due to its proximity to Bergen, Os is experiencing strong population growth. -History:...
. He was also a deputy member to the Norwegian Parliament from 1997 to 2001.
Early and personal life
Søviknes was born in OsOs, Hordaland
Os is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Due to its proximity to Bergen, Os is experiencing strong population growth. -History:...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
to metalworker Eirik Søviknes (born 1939) and shop employee Gunn Drange (born 1942). He is married and has two children.
Political career
Søviknes was from 1999 to 2001 vice chairman of the Progress Party together with Siv JensenSiv Jensen
Siv Jensen is a Norwegian conservative-liberal politician, and the current leader of the Progress Party. She was the Progress Party's candidate for Prime Minister in the 2009 parliamentary election.-Early and personal life:...
, and was considered as a possible successor to Carl I. Hagen
Carl I. Hagen
Carl Ivar Hagen is a Norwegian politician and former Vice President of the Norwegian Parliament. He was the chairman of the Progress Party from 1978 until 2006, when Siv Jensen replaced him as chairman of the party...
as chairman of the party. He however became controversial after an incident at a party congress in 2001 where he had committed adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
with a 16 year old intoxicated member of the Youth of the Progress Party
Youth of the Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party’s Youth , is the youth wing of the Norwegian political party the Progress Party. It is generally more libertarian than the Progress Party itself, both with regards to economics and politics in general...
. Søviknes is still mayor of Os and did not lose his local support after the incident. In fact, the support for the Progress Party in Os, from the 1999 local elections
Norwegian local elections, 1999
Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1999. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:...
to the 2003 local elections
Norwegian local elections, 2003
Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway on September 15, 2003. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently. In addition, several municipalities held direct mayoral...
increased from 36.6 to 45.7% (the highest share of votes for the party in a municipality for the election).
Os has since by himself and the media
Media (communication)
In communications, media are the storage and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data...
been seen as a showcase municipality for the Progress Party. This is as he in his first term as mayor achieved full kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
coverage, full nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
coverage and started a program of well-being and health journeys to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and related locations. It was also established a "full" stop of immigration and a local Vinmonopol
Vinmonopolet
Vinmonopolet , symbolized by Ⓥ and colloquially shortened to Polet, is a government owned alcoholic beverage retailer and the only company allowed to sell beverages containing an alcohol content higher than 4.75% in Norway....
store. Successful in being consecutively elected as mayor from 2003 to 2007, in this term the main issues was development of the city centre
Osøyro
Osøyro is a village in and municipal administration seat of Os in Hordaland, Norway. The village had 8,772 residents in 2009.-References:...
, better drug addiction recovery programs, development of schools and construction of a waterpark. While the municipality was struggling with large deficits before Søviknes became mayor, this has since been turned into a significant surplus
Economic surplus
In mainstream economics, economic surplus refers to two related quantities. Consumer surplus or consumers' surplus is the monetary gain obtained by consumers because they are able to purchase a product for a price that is less than the highest price that they would be willing to pay...
as of 2004. His successful career as mayor of Os has gained him the nickname the "Wizard of Os" by the media.