– I have decided to say no to re-election. For the party, it is good to bring in new forces, new energy, and new ideas into the role of party secretary, Stenseng tells NRK.
This means she will step down after the national meeting in April after having served as party secretary since 2015.
Stenseng is the third longest-serving party secretary in the Labour Party since World War II.
She emphasizes to NRK that she has not been asked to leave.
– I choose to say this now so that the party has time to find new candidates. I want to contribute to the renewal that I believe the party needs, she says.
Poor opinion polls
She also denies that it is related to the poor opinion polls in recent times. Support has dropped to as low as 14 percent, and last year, the Conservative Party became the largest party in the municipal elections.
– This is something I have thought about for quite a while. I probably made the decision over the summer.
She tells VG that she is not completely closing the door on politics moving forward.
– But I feel relief and nostalgia when I have said out loud what I have been thinking for a long time, says Stenseng.
Støre: – Respects the decision
Stenseng will not comment to VG on whether Prime Minister and party leader Jonas Gahr Støre should do the same as her.
– What others do, I will not interfere with at all. This is my decision and my role. Jonas has my full trust, says Stenseng.
Støre himself says that Stenseng informed him of her decision some time ago, and that he respects it.
– I greatly appreciate Kjersti, and we have worked closely and well together in the party leadership since 2015, he tells VG.
Brenna: – Great respect for the work she has done
Deputy leader Tonje Brenna also states that she has respect for Stenseng’s decision and the work she has done as party secretary for ten years.
– Kjersti has herself stated some time ago that she believes it is time to let in new forces. She has been the party secretary in the Labour Party for ten years, which has partly been very challenging for the party, Brenna tells VG.
Stenseng has been a member of the party’s central committee since 2011 and has previously served as county leader of Oppland Labour Party. She has also been a state secretary and political advisor in the Ministry of Culture. She is originally from Kvam in Nord-Fron in Gudbrandsdalen.
