MDG leader diagnosed with acute leukemia

Arild Hermstad, leader of Norway’s Green Party (MDG), has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and is undergoing treatment, he confirmed in a statement to NTB reported by Dagbladet.

Hermstad, 59, sought medical attention after feeling unusually fatigued for several weeks. Tests revealed the blood cancer diagnosis. He described the disease as serious but said doctors aim for a full recovery.

“We have a professional, publicly funded healthcare system, and the treatment I’m receiving is world-class. I feel in very safe hands,” Hermstad said.

He acknowledged the treatment would be demanding and time-consuming, adding: “I need time for treatment and to process what I’m going through, so I ask for privacy for me and my family from the media and others.”

Ingrid Liland, MDG’s deputy leader, will serve as acting party leader during Hermstad’s treatment.