Bru is a former oil and energy minister in Erna Solberg’s government. She has sat in the Storting for Rogaland since 2013, and in 2020 she was elected 2nd deputy leader of the Conservative Party. She has also chaired the party’s women’s forum.
She has been predicted to have a bright future career in national politics, and has been called Erna Solberg’s “star shot”.
Tina Bru was born in Moss, but has represented Rogaland in the Storting since 2013. She has a husband, children and home in Stavanger.
Photo: William Jobling / NRK
– My choice was made after a lot of pondering, lots of doubts and difficult processes in my head. The time has now come to say goodbye to the long commitment of one more term in the Storting, says Bru VG.
Erna Solberg states to NRK that she understands very well that it is difficult to commit to four new years when Bru has small children in a completely different city.
– But I am very happy that this is not a farewell to politics, and that she is open to contributing in other roles that do not lock her away from her family for four years, she writes in a text message.
– Tina is an important politician for the Conservative Party. She was also there before she entered the Storting as a 27-year-old. She has distinguished herself as a clear voice in several areas and has an eye on politics that is of great value to us, Solberg continues.
Erna Solberg, former Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party.
Photo: Ronja Elise Bredholt Schrøder / NRK
Missing a normal everyday life with the family
Bru tells VG that she has never experienced a normal family life. NRK has been in contact with Bru, but she does not have time to say anything more for now.
– Sorry, no time for that in the middle of the morning chaos at home, she writes via SMS.
On Friday morning, she writes on Facebook that her choice of no to a place in the Storting does not rule out other positions in politics.
– Being a minister was a great privilege, it was super fun. Should I be lucky enough to have the opportunity to do it again, I will consider it at that time, writes Bru.
– Does not close the door to politics
Political commentator at NRK, Tone Sofie Aglen, says Bru has probably been a favorite of many to take over from Erna Solberg when she once gives up.
– But she does not close the door to politics, she points out.
Political commentator at NRK, Tone Sofie Aglen.
Photo: Ole Kaland / NRK
Aglen believes that politics today is such that you can take a break and then come back at a later time.
After Bent Høie left politics, Tina Bru has been a self-described top of the list with the Conservative Party in Rogaland, she believes.
– Bru has been an important profile for the Conservative Party, so she is not an easy top candidate for the party to replace in Rogaland, she says.
More give up
Leader of Rogaland Høyre, Harald Lønning, writes in an SMS to NRK that it is sad that Bru is giving up on the Storting.
– Tina is a great political talent, so it’s probably not the last we see of her in the Høyre context.
Leader of Rogaland Conservative Party, Harald Larssen Lönning.
Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / NRK
There are several Storting politicians from Rogaland who are giving up.
Last week, Torstein Tvedt Solberg (Ap) announced that he will not seek re-election to the Storting. It was already known that Hadia Tajik (Ap) does not want to run for re-election either.
– It is simply demanding for people in the establishment phase with young children to combine work and politics, and it is a bit of a cross-talk, says NRK’s Aglen.
The FRP politicians Roy Steffensen and Terje Halleland have also said that they are giving up in the Storting for Rogaland in 2025. In addition, Ingrid Fiskaa (SV) is also considering giving up.
Published 12.04.2024, at 06.18 Updated 12.04.2024, at 14.57