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Former Storting representative and city council member in Oslo, Erling Folkvord (R) has died, the family informs NTB. He lived to be 74 years old.

Photo: Mimsy Møller / Samfoto

Friday 1 March at 14:43

The 74-year-old died this morning, the family said. He was traveling in Stockholm in connection with a book project about Kurdistan and Palestine.

He is the only one who has represented the former party Rød Valgallianse – the forerunner of Rødt – in the Storting.

– This was very sad news. Erling will be remembered from his time as RV’s only parliamentary representative, but also for his persistent efforts for the Kurds and against corruption and injustice against people in Oslo, says Rødt leader Marie Sneve Martinussen to VG.

Rødt representative Bjørnar Moxnes writes on Facebook that he got to know Folkvord through his work in Oslo city council from 2007.

– It was very sad to hear that Erling has died, he writes in the article that VG has been given permission to reproduce.

– There was a good dose of awe at suddenly being group leader for one of the party’s most experienced elected officials, but Erling was not exactly solemn on his own behalf, so it was instructive and useful.

Moxnes further writes that they did not agree on one and all.

– But that never stood in the way of us working well together for the good of the party. Thank you very much for your efforts, Erling!

Bjørnar Moxnes and Erling Folkvord. Photo: Tore Kristiansen / VG

Oslotrønder

Erling Folkvord was actually from Trønder, and was born in Levanger. He was a trained social worker. Folkvord was politically active on the left since the 1960s and joined the ML movement from the start in 1972.

He was also a city council representative in Oslo for many years. There he perhaps made the most of his reputation as a keen corruption hunter, and contributed strongly to the revelations of the so-called Oslo corruption.

– He made a very important effort against corruption and abuse of power. Right up until the end, he has been active in Rødt, says party leader Martinussen to VG.

See historical photos in the gallery below:

Photo: Bård Gudim / VG

Photo: Gunnar Lier / NTB

Photo: Helge Mikalsen / VG

Photo: Frode Hansen / VG

Photo: Bjørn-Owe Holmberg / NTB

Photo: Hanssen, Eystein / NTB

Photo: Bo Mathisen / VG

In 2015, Folkvord wrote the book “The Great Oslo Robbery” about the sale of 1,744 staff housing for employees at Aker and Ullevål Hospital.

– Erling was involved in Rødt. He did not always agree with the choices the party made, but he participated actively and has done an important job both for Rødt, Oslo and Norway, says the Rødt leader.

No bullshit

Storting veteran Per Olaf Lundteigen (Sp) sat together with Erling Folkvord on the finance committee in his time.

– We had a very real relationship. We disagreed about many things, but he was a politician you could really trust. He had no refined habits at all, says Lundteigen to VG.

DEMONSTRATED: Erling Folkvord did not go out of his way to participate in a demonstration. Here he is active in a demonstration against SIAN in the center of Oslo in 2020. Photo: Odin Jæger / VG

He particularly boasts about Folkvord’s thoroughness and perseverance in the political work as a one-man group in the Storting. – He was keen to discuss the matter with ordinary working people, says the SP veteran, who believes that Folkvord was one of the most unscrupulous people he has known.

– He never wore a tie in Parliament, but surprised many once when he wore a suit with a white shirt and tie on a committee trip to the Balkans, recalls Lundteigen.

– I really appreciated Erling Folkvord, he adds.

2024-03-01 13:05:19


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