Telemark county mayor resigns after secret relationship

Telemark county mayor Sven Tore Løkslid is seeking leave from his office after acknowledging a secret relationship with the Labour Party’s group leader, Dagbladet reports.

Løkslid said in a Facebook post that he had been in a personal relationship with group leader Martine Tinderholt Øverland without being open about it.

“I should have been open about this. Since we also took part in handling matters involving, among other things, our political roles, I recognise that this may create a conflict of roles and weaken trust in me as county mayor,” he wrote.

Løkslid said he took full responsibility for the situation and apologised for choices that had placed a burden on people around him.

Terje Riis-Johansen will take over as county mayor, according to NRK.

The newspaper Varden revealed the relationship, which Løkslid confirmed on Friday. According to Varden, it lasted from spring 2023 to spring 2024. It therefore continued during the 2023 election campaign, when Løkslid was elected county mayor and Tinderholt Øverland became the Labour Party’s group leader in the county council.

Tinderholt Øverland, who has been an elected representative in Bamble since 2015, also confirmed the relationship to Varden.

“I can confirm that I have had a troubled relationship with Sven Tore Løkslid, which has been difficult for me,” she told the newspaper.

She said the situation was highly distressing and that she did not want to comment further on its personal aspects out of consideration for everyone involved.

According to Varden, the leadership of the Telemark Labour Party reacted strongly after learning about the relationship. The party leadership believed it should have been disclosed because both held central political positions.

The newspaper also reported that Løkslid allegedly denied the relationship several times when confronted with rumours by party leaders and other politicians.

Dagbladet has tried to contact Løkslid, Tinderholt Øverland and the Telemark Labour Party but has not received a response.