(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
What does the country's young minority youth think about the election campaign?
We meet six young people with minority backgrounds in front of the Storting to hear what they have to say about the election campaign and the 2005 parliamentary elections. They have relatives from both Somalia, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. As they sit in a ring in front of the parliament building, they flood with widely differing opinions:
"We are not heard!"
"Hope Carl I. Hagen gets the chance!"
"No one has credibility with me!"
"Why not imams into politics?"
"Kristin Halvorsen wants to create something new in Norway."
Rashid Jirde (18)
Studying sales and service vk1, Somali family background.
What do you think of the election campaign?
- I do not know much about what has been good or bad with the election last time, but now I know a little more, and know who to vote for!
- Which party has the most credibility?
- SV has the most credibility with me. I think that Kristin Halvorsen is a very committed lady who wants to achieve something new. Norway should have a female prime minister this year, so that there are some changes in society.
- Should religious leaders participate in politics?
- Yes, I think foreign religious leaders should participate in politics, because then they become familiar with politics and the society they live in – and then become more involved as well.
- What should politicians focus on?
- There are many who say a lot of bad things about foreign people, without knowing them well. They create a negative image of minorities and spread xenophobia, and there is a lot of hatred for that reason. This can make it more difficult for me in the future when I go into working life. We must pay attention to each other and work together to have a better society.
- How do you get more involved?
- Politicians should support us more with leisure clubs, have conferences at school and tell what they have done instead of telling what to do. This is how we will see if they have really done what they promised!
Soheila Azar Sadeghi (21), bioengineering student, Iranian family background.
What do you think of the election campaign?
- It often happens that you are very engaged the first time you vote, and visit all the booths and find all the information needed, but eventually you vote the same.
- Which party has the most credibility?
- I am between SV and RV, but I can not talk about some politicians. Politics is not about individuals, but about unity and solidarity, and that everyone should stand together to get what they want.
- Should religious leaders participate in politics?
- It really depends on how they do it. Some people should not mix politics and religion because it can have a very wrong outcome. At the same time: If foreign religious leaders get involved in politics, it can get more people with a foreign background to get involved in politics.
- What should politicians focus on?
- They should focus on making society better for everyone, so that no one feels inferior: Invest more in kindergartens and schools, because that is what creates the basis for the rest of life!
- How do you get more involved?
- They need to not only try to convince, but also have a dialogue with young people, and show concrete examples of what they have done and what they can do next.
Arbab Afzal (26), works as a car salesman, Pakistani family background.
- What do you think about the election campaign?
- I think the election campaign this year is very exciting because Bondevik will not be able to keep his place. I also have no sense of Stoltenberg in that he has tried before and not done very well. I hope Carl I. Hagen gets the chance!
- Which party has the most credibility?
- Last time I voted for the Labor Party and Jens Stoltenberg, but he did not do so well. This time, I feel that no one is credible enough. Still, I hope that Carl I. Hagen will get more power this year. It will make it better for me to drive and drive.
- Should religious leaders participate in politics?
- Yes, as long as it is about Norwegian politics, that's fine. If they are going to run a different type of policy, then they need to not participate in the policy.
- What should politicians focus on?
- Kindergarten places. I have a child myself, so then this becomes most relevant to me. The fact that I will vote for Frp, is due to such things as taxes and petrol. I'm a car salesman and incredibly tired of all kinds of taxes. I do not care what they bring with crime and immigration, Hagen does not aim at one type of group, but all. Immigrants come more into focus, but I do not think it is wrong of the FRP to play on xenophobia, because there is so much hiding, crime, abuse and rape. Not everyone in Frp I support, only Carl I. Hagen.
- How do you get more involved?
- I think they should tell the truth about what they stand for.
Tehmina Sarwar (20), political science student at the University of Oslo, Pakistani family background.
- What do you think about the election campaign?
- I support the campaign that the Future in our hands is doing now. That is, the election campaign addresses very petty issues in relation to the issues that should actually be addressed – such as major international issues and environmental issues. There is a lot of focus on growth, but we live in a world where eight hundred million people are starving. Norway is portrayed as a good peace nation, but there is a lot that needs to be addressed in Norwegian politics that is quite frightening. I am also very interested in foreign policy, such as the Iraq war.
- Which party has the most credibility?
- I dislike key politicians in the Conservative Party and the Green Party. I can not exactly say that I like Erna Solberg or am excited about Carl Ivar. I have the sense for some RV politicians. Erling Folkvord I think is very free-speaking and a nice opposition voice to have in Norway. I also think that Olaf Thommessen, deputy leader of the Liberal Party, is a skilled and fair person in relation to issues of immigration and integration. When it comes to credibility, I would probably say that I will support SV or RV. These are the parties I support the most, although there are a number of issues I disagree with in relation to a number of value and moral issues.
- Should religious leaders participate in politics?
- We have a prime minister who is a priest, so why should not an imam on an equal footing with other people participate in politics? Being an imam is a profession – and religion is a big part of society.
- What do you think politicians should focus on?
- Solidarity and elderly care! I think it is shameful how the elderly are treated in Norway. We have become so egocentric that we do not take care of our elderly. It is not the politicians' fault, but our own.
- How do you get more involved?
- I think they should talk more with young people instead of talking to young people.
Wesal Khattak (18), studying technical drawing vk1, family background from Afghanistan.
- What do you think about the election campaign?
- I will vote for the first time and think that the election campaign has been completely fair. I do not remember much of the previous election campaign – then I was too young to be involved.
- Which party has the most credibility with you?
- FRP chairman Carl I. Hagen I dislike, without commenting further, otherwise I have no favorites and no politician has credibility with me.
- Should religious leaders participate in politics?
- Well… it is asked what kind of religious leaders we are talking about. If, for example. is a Norwegian imam, that's fine, but I could not imagine that an imam who is imported from Pakistan should come and interfere in politics here in Norway. Do not think he knows how it is in Norway.
- What should politicians focus on?
- Petrol prices and car insurance, since I will soon take the note. I also want them to focus on renovating schools and more youth facilities. I have had many teachers that I am not happy with, so I think there should be stricter requirements for teachers. Not only should they be good at the subject they are teaching, but they should also be good at teaching it.
- How do you get more involved?
- It is very good with the parties that have young people in politics. I think it is as much the media's responsibility as the politicians, it is the media that brings the issues forward to the voters.
Fazila Mahmood (19), mechanical engineering student, Pakistani family background.
- What do you think about the election campaign?
- We are not heard! Thus, I am not so involved in politics, and do not have such strong opinions about it really.
Which party has the most credibility?
- I do not have any favorites, since I do not intend to vote! There was someone who told me that in practice it will be a vote for Frp, and then I thought hmm .. But I'm still unsure…
Should religious leaders participate in politics?
- Yes, why not- they have opinions too.
- What should politicians focus on?
- Politicians can promise what they want, and not much is done! They are unclear. Many young people probably do not see much difference in them, and then you do not know who to trust! I think politicians should ask the people more, what is needed: Education, school and elderly care for example.
- How do you get more involved?
- They say a lot, maybe they come up with a lot to get more people to vote for them? Politicians are very committed, and want most people to vote for them, but it is more unclear what they like about what they promise. Then I lose motivation ”.
