Progress Party politician reports death threats after racist remarks by adviser

Norwegian politician Simen Velle of the Progress Party (Frp) has revealed he and his family have received death threats following media coverage of racist statements made by his parliamentary adviser, Dagbladet reports.

In a Facebook post, Velle condemned the remarks by his adviser Hårek Hansen, who reportedly referred to Pakistanis as “minus variants” and suggested they should not have children in Norway. “What he said is something we all strongly distance ourselves from,” Velle wrote, acknowledging that combating racism is necessary but stating that the subsequent threats against him and his family “crossed the line.”

Velle told Dagbladet he had prioritised his family’s safety and reported the threats to police. Hansen has been reported to authorities, and the Progress Party has launched an internal investigation.

Party leader Sylvi Listhaug publicly denounced the remarks during a national party conference, calling them “contrary to both our policies and our view of humanity.” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Conservative Party leader Ine Eriksen Søreide also condemned the statements as racist.