Progress Party advisor referred to Pakistanis as “minus variants”

A senior advisor to Norway’s Progress Party (FrP) described people of Pakistani origin as “minus variants” and suggested they should not have children in Norway, according to a recording published by TV 2. The party has launched an internal investigation and the advisor has apologised.

The comments were made by Hårek Hansen, an advisor to FrP politician Simen Velle, during a conversation with two TV 2 journalists at a bar in Oslo the evening before the party’s national conference. The journalists had identified themselves as reporters, and the exchange was secretly recorded.

In the recording, Hansen stated that Pakistani-Norwegians were “measurably minus variants” and that “West Europe is going to hell anyway,” adding that ethnically Norwegian people should have more children. When asked if non-ethnic Norwegians should also have more children, he replied, “No! I don’t want that.”

Party colleagues present during the conversation distanced themselves from the remarks. The Progress Party’s secretary-general, Helge Fossum, confirmed to NTB that the incident is now being treated as an internal personnel matter.

“These are completely unacceptable statements that we have zero tolerance for. This is not in line with the Progress Party’s policy,” Fossum said.

In an email to TV 2, Hansen claimed his remarks were “meant as humour and childish provocation” and influenced by alcohol. “It’s vulgar and stupid drunken talk, which I truly distance myself from and deeply regret,” he wrote.