Norwegian MP criticised for saying “pretty women” attract workers to Finnmark

A Progressive Party (Frp) member of Norway’s parliament is facing backlash after suggesting that “pretty women” in Finnmark help attract male workers to the region, NRK reports.

Bengt Rune Strifeldt, a Storting representative for Frp, made the remarks during an interview with NRK while summarising his party’s national conference. When asked about efforts to boost employment in Finnmark, he stated:

“There are two things that draw people—or get the boys to move. That’s attractive jobs and pretty women. And we do have pretty women in Finnmark, so we just need to get those good jobs in place so we can get the boys to move north.”

Linda Beate Randal, group leader for the Labour Party in the Finnmark county council, condemned the comments as outdated and harmful. “He’s saying it’s enough that the women in Finnmark are pretty. The whole county is fixed as long as we have pretty women. Then we just need to develop jobs for men,” Randal told NRK.

She warned that such statements risk deterring young women from pursuing careers or settling in Finnmark. “It’s a stupid comment. This is a very old-man perspective,” she added.

Strifeldt defended his remarks, insisting they were made in a “humorous” tone and dismissing the criticism as “a storm in a teacup.” He maintained that his intention was not to discourage women from living in the region.