Norway’s conservative Progress Party announced on Thursday that it had terminated its employment of political adviser Hårek Hansen and cancelled his party membership. Hansen had made what many, including top party officials, called racist remarks on the eve of its national annual meeting.
Hansen got into trouble late last week when he called Norwegians of Pakistani descent “minusvarianter,” meaning they were below average, and suggested they shouldn’t have children. His remarks came during a conversation in a bar with reporters from TV2 who picked them up on tape.
The party (Fremskrittspartiet, FrP) is well-known for its strict immigration policies and has become sensitive towards any accusations of racism. Hansen’s remarks were condemned by party leaders and he was quickly suspended from his post as a political adviser to FrP’s young new Member of Parliament Simen Velle.
“I connection with the unacceptable remarks made by Hårek Hansen, we have had dialogue with him,” stated FrP’s secretary general Helge Fossum in a press release Thursday afternoon. “FrP has zero tolerance for such remarks and we think Hårek Hansen has understood the serious nature of the case.”
NewsinEnglish.no staff
