OSLO / HELSINKI (Dagbladet): – I am happy to have my home county behind me and grateful that so many people from all over the country in our organization have encouraged me to run. If the election committee and the national assembly also want it, then I am ready to take responsibility in the leadership of the party, Hadia Tajik told VG last week.
A new power struggle was the last thing anyone in the Labor Party wanted, but last week they suddenly got one in their lap anyway.
Dagbladet has spoken to a number of sources who are close to the process of putting together a new party leadership in Ap. Their verdict is crystal clear: Hadia Tajik will not be the new deputy leader, nor will she get a place on the central board.
Tajik simply lacks trust, and is perceived as divisive, according to Dagbladet’s information.
Hadia Tajik does not wish to comment on the article.
Power struggle
Resigned
The one deputy leader post in Ap has been empty since Tajik resigned last spring after the commuter housing case. Tajik was launched as the new deputy leader by Frode Fjeldsbø, her county leader in Rogaland.
In addition to the vacant post of deputy leader, the election committee in the Labor Party, led by LO leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik, must find new members for the powerful central board.
Several people Dagbladet has spoken to point out that the most important thing now is to create calm around the party and not stir up old conflicts.
Hadia Tajik is problematic for two reasons when it comes to the desire for calm within the party:
- The Metoo dispute in the party where she was perceived to be on one side.
- The commuter housing case which led to her resigning as both minister and deputy leader.
– Illegal
Resistance in the trade union movement
According to Dagbladet’s information, there is still great opposition to Tajik in the trade union movement. Both in the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions and the Trade Unions, the issue of commuter housing has not been forgotten.
This means that Tajik, according to Dagbladet’s experience, lacks the necessary support from LO.
In addition to the history of conflict between the Tajik and Giske wings from metoo and the commuter housing case, a further element has come up that speaks against a Tajik comeback: The way she launched herself as a deputy candidate.
Promise more money
Rogaland: – Hadia is the first priority
Jarle Nilsen, board member of Rogaland Ap, comments on the case on behalf of the county team. He does not believe that the election committee has advanced its work.
– We are completely confident that Hadia will be assessed as thoroughly and properly as all other names entered from the counties, and we know that she has broad support around the country, he tells Dagbladet.
Nilsen emphasizes that Tajik is Rogaland Ap’s “first priority”.
– Her experience from many years of parliamentary work, negotiations and political results makes her very suitable for the party leadership. She is our first priority, both as deputy chairperson and member of the central board,
– Met a new guy
Hit wrong
Several Dagbladet spoke to point out that the launch itself is now considered problematic. Here, both timing and strategy are pointed out.
That Tajik was launched in leading edge of the first meeting of the election committee, of Rogaland’s member in said committee, annoys many central to the process.
In addition – Minister of Knowledge Tonje Brenna was an obvious candidate for the position. The sneak launch of Tajik opens the way for a new personal conflict at the Ap top.
No one Dagbladet speaks to believes the party can afford a new year of heated personal disputes and power struggles. It is flatly rejected that the majority in the election committee can stand behind Tajik now – and thus she has no chance in practice.
The action taken by the circle around Tajik last week could end up costing her any chance of a comeback, according to Dagbladet’s information.
