December 31, 2021
The Norwegian Parliament has elected as its new speaker Masud Gharahkhani, the first foreign-born speaker in Norway’s history, making him the highest-ranking Iranian political expatriate in the world.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store lauded Gharahkhani, 39, and underscored the fact that this was the first time an immigrant had held such a high office in Norway. “I know Masud as an honest, experienced and orderly politician,” the prime minister said. Both men are members of the Labor Party, which is the largest party in the 169-seat parliament with 49 seats.
After his election, Gharahkhani said, “I have received enormous trust. I want to use my position to strengthen Norwegian democracy, the welfare state, gender equality and civil freedom,” noting that he comes from a country where these values are lacking.
Born in Tehran in 1982, Gharahkhani emigrated to Norway with his family in 1987. His father, Bijan Gharahkhani, was a trade unionist in Iran. The parents started out as strawberry pickers in Norway. His mother, Sara, later became a teacher and his father now works for the government of the city where they live.
The younger Gharahkhani enrolled at Gjovik University College, graduating as a radiological technologist, and has been employed by Blefjell Hospital.
Gharahkhani was first elected as a deputy representative to the parliament in the 2009 election, not as a full member. He received a standing ovation at the Labor Party national convention in 2011 for his speech about his journey from Iran.
Hoping to be the first mayor in Norway with a non-Western immigrant background, Gharahkhani was the Labor Party candidate for mayor of Drammen in the 2011 local election. He lost to incumbent Tore Opdal Hansen from the Conservative Party. His campaign was marred by speculation in the press about marriage to a woman in Iran. Gharahkhani, however, blamed his opponents for attempting to smear him.
He then won a regular seat in the parliament, called the Storting, from the city of Buskerud in the 2017 elections.
The prime minister at the time, Jens Stoltenberg, called Gharahkhani “an extraordinary political talent” and “a success story in Norwegian society.”
Last month, the Labor Party nominated Gharahkhani to succeed Eva Kristin Hansen as speaker following her resignation after a parliamentary scandal. He was formally elected the next day in a written vote.
In an incident where teachers at an elementary school in his hometown of Drammen banned its pupils from wearing traditional Christmas costumes at an annual Christmas play, Gharahkhani publicly criticized the school for its actions and reiterated the importance of Norwegian culture and tradition in schools.
When asked about his personal experiences, he explained: “I always participated in Christmas activities in school and I would recommend it to my children.” Commentators praised him for his openness and tolerance.
A hardline supporter of immigrant integration, Gharahkhani has stated that immigrant children have to learn to speak Norwegian or risk being taken by the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, calling failure to teach children Norwegian “unacceptable parental neglect” as it was an absolute prerequisite for succeeding in the Norwegian society.
The first difficult task of the new speaker of the Storting will be to sort out the scandal bequeathed to him. His predecessor and party colleague, Eva Kristin Hansen, resigned after it was revealed that she had used her business premises in Oslo unlawfully for years, despite owning a house outside the city. The Norwegian police are also investigating five other members of the Storting who allegedly abused their positions.
Gharahkhani married his wife, Saloumeh “Sally” Abbasian, in Turkey in 2010. They currently have one son.
