A Muslim environmentalist who is from Pakistan could become Oslo’s next mayor after his party became king maker in the Norwegian capital following local elections.
After getting five seats on Oslo city council in Monday’s election, the green party MDG holds the balance of power and says it will force its candidate, Shoaib Sultan, be given the place of mayor in upcoming conference with the other parties.
“He would be a great mayor for all of Oslo, he would be representing the people of Oslo and the best Mayor they have ever known,” MDG party leader Rasmus Hansson, told NRK radio on Tuesday.
“The place of mayor is definitely part of the package to be negotiated,” he said.
Both the right wing, which has been in control in Oslo for 18 years, and the left have said they are prepared to negotiate with MDG to obtain a majority on the council.
The right won 28 of the 59 seats up for grabs, while the left took 26 seats.
MDG presents itself as independent from the two blocs, but has conventionally voted with leftist parties.
Shoaib Sultan, 41, is an earlier secretary of the Islamic Council, an umbrella organisation representing Muslims in Norway, and has also worked for an anti-racism centre.
He settled in Norway from Pakistan when he was around a year old.
The Labour party and its groups appear to have got majorities in most major towns.