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| alma_mater = [[Bergen Handelsgymnasium]]<br>[[University of Bergen]]
| alma_mater = [[Bergen Handelsgymnasium]]<br>[[University of Bergen]]
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'''Audun Bjørlo Lysbakken''' (born 30 September 1977) is a Norwegian politician and the leader of the Norwegian [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left Party]] since 2012. In 2006, he became deputy leader of the party. On 20 October 2009, he was appointed [[Minister of Children and Equality (Norway)|Minister of Children and Equality]], a post he held until 5 March 2012, when he resigned due to conflicts of interest.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lysbakken går av, men stiller som lederkandidat |language=Norwegian |trans-title=Lysbakken resigns, but upholds candidacy for party leader |url=http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2012/03/05/lysbakken-gar-av |publisher=[[Norsk Telegrambyrå]]/abcnyheter.no |date=March 5, 2012 |accessdate=June 5, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413114341/http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2012/03/05/lysbakken-gar-av |archivedate=April 13, 2012 |df= }}</ref> Under his leadership, the Socialist party has had strong gains in its vote share in Parliamentary elections and membership.<ref>{{cite news|title=SV-jubel over kraftig medlemsvekst|language=Norwegian|trans-title=SV rejoices over membership growth|url=https://www.dn.no/nyheter/2018/01/10/0548/Politikk/sv-jubel-over-kraftig-medlemsvekst|publisher=[[Dagens Næringsliv]]|date=January 10, 2018|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SV vokser videre etter godt valg|language=Norwegian|trans-title=SV continues to grow after good elections|url=https://www.vl.no/nyhet/sv-vokser-videre-etter-et-godt-valg-1.1032493?paywall=true|publisher=[[Vårt Land (Norwegian newspaper)|Vårt Land]]|date=September 28, 2017|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
'''Audun Bjørlo Lysbakken''' (born 30 September 1977) is a Norwegian politician and the current leader of the Norwegian [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left Party]]. His career in national politics began when he was elected to the Norwegian parliament in 2001. In 2006, he became deputy leader of The Socialist Left Party. He held the post as [[Minister of Children and Equality (Norway)|Minister of Children and Equality]] in [[Jens Stoltenberg's second term as Prime Minister of Norway|Jens Stoltenberg's second government]] from October 2009 to March 2012, when he resigned due to a conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lysbakken går av, men stiller som lederkandidat |language=Norwegian |trans-title=Lysbakken resigns, but upholds candidacy for party leader |url=http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2012/03/05/lysbakken-gar-av |publisher=[[Norsk Telegrambyrå]]/abcnyheter.no |date=March 5, 2012 |accessdate=June 5, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413114341/http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2012/03/05/lysbakken-gar-av |archivedate=April 13, 2012 |df= }}</ref> Under his leadership, the Socialist party has had strong gains in its vote share in Parliamentary elections and membership.<ref>{{cite news|title=SV-jubel over kraftig medlemsvekst|language=Norwegian|trans-title=SV rejoices over membership growth|url=https://www.dn.no/nyheter/2018/01/10/0548/Politikk/sv-jubel-over-kraftig-medlemsvekst|publisher=[[Dagens Næringsliv]]|date=January 10, 2018|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SV vokser videre etter godt valg|language=Norwegian|trans-title=SV continues to grow after good elections|url=https://www.vl.no/nyhet/sv-vokser-videre-etter-et-godt-valg-1.1032493?paywall=true|publisher=[[Vårt Land (Norwegian newspaper)|Vårt Land]]|date=September 28, 2017|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref>


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Lysbakken is the son of [[actor]] Sigurd Lysbakken (1947–1994) and cultural worker Geirdis Bjørlo (1952). He attended primary school at Møhlenpris elementary school (1984–1993), and high school at [[Bergen Handelsgymnasium]] (1993–1996). He has university minors in [[French language|French]] and comparative politics from the [[University of Bergen]] (1996–1998). After his university studies, he performed mandatory civil service instead of conscript military duty, and served this duty as a secretary at [[Norsk Økologisk Landbrukslag]] and as a journalist in the daily ''[[Klassekampen]]'' 2000–2001.<ref name="storbio">{{stortingetbio|ALYS}} (Official parliament biography)</ref>
Lysbakken is the son of [[actor]] Sigurd Lysbakken (1947–1994) and cultural worker and author Geirdis Bjørlo (1952). He attended primary school at Møhlenpris elementary school (1984–1993), and high school at [[Bergen Handelsgymnasium]] (1993–1996). He has university minors in [[French language|French]] and comparative politics from the [[University of Bergen]] (1996–1998). After his university studies, he performed mandatory civil service instead of conscript military duty, serving as a secretary at [[Norsk Økologisk Landbrukslag]] and as a journalist in the daily ''[[Klassekampen]]'' 2000–2001.<ref name="storbio">{{stortingetbio|ALYS}} (Official parliament biography)</ref>


== Political career ==
== Political career ==
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Lysbakken held his first post in [[Socialist Youth (Norway)|Socialist Youth]], the Socialist Left party's youth organization, as leader of its Bergen chapter in 1996–1998, and went on to be elected leader of the county (Hordaland) organization in 1998–2000. He was deputy leader of the Socialist Youth's national organization 2000–2002.
Lysbakken held his first post in [[Socialist Youth (Norway)|Socialist Youth]], the Socialist Left party's youth organization, as leader of its Bergen chapter in 1996–1998, and went on to be elected leader of the county (Hordaland) organization in 1998–2000. He was deputy leader of the Socialist Youth's national organization 2000–2002.


Lysbakken's first public office was as member of the Bergen City Council in 1999–2000. He was elected to the [[Parliament of Norway]] in 2001 as a representative for [[Hordaland]] county. He was a member of the parliament's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. He failed to be re-elected in 2005, but became first deputy representative. He was elected deputy leader of the Socialist Left Party on 18 February 2006.
Lysbakken's first public office was as member of the Bergen City Council in 1999–2000. He was elected to the [[Parliament of Norway|Norwegian Parliament]] in 2001 as a representative for [[Hordaland]] county. He was a member of the parliament's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. He was not re-elected in 2005, but became first deputy representative. He was elected deputy leader of the Socialist Left Party on 18 February 2006.


===Government office===
===Government office===
{{Main article|Jens Stoltenberg's second term as Prime Minister of Norway}}
{{Main article|Jens Stoltenberg's second term as Prime Minister of Norway}}


In 2009, he reclaimed a seat in Parliament from Hordaland, and was appointed to the [[Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence]]. He was named parliamentary leader of his party group,<ref>{{cite news|title=Lysbakken parlamentarisk leder i SV|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Lysbakken parliamentary leader for Socialist Left|publisher=[[Norsk Telegrambyrå]]/[[Verdens Gang]]|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=573276|date=October 9, 2009|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> but was shortly thereafter appointed as Minister of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion in [[Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet]] on 20 October 2009, as the first man to hold this post. When Lysbakken was appointed to the ministry, his deputy [[Gina Barstad]] took his place in Parliament.
In 2009, Lysbakken reclaimed a seat in Parliament from Hordaland, and was appointed to the [[Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence]]. He was named parliamentary leader of his party group,<ref>{{cite news|title=Lysbakken parlamentarisk leder i SV|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Lysbakken parliamentary leader for Socialist Left|publisher=[[Norsk Telegrambyrå]]/[[Verdens Gang]]|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=573276|date=October 9, 2009|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> but was shortly thereafter appointed as Minister of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion in [[Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet]] on 20 October 2009, as the first man to hold this post. When Lysbakken was appointed to the ministry, his deputy [[Gina Barstad]] took his place in Parliament.


During Lysbakken's term in office, the parental leave and the [[Daddy quota|father's quota]] were extended.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ekeberg |first=Emilie |title=Two out of three want to abolish the father's quota |language=Norwegian |trans-title=To av tre vil fjerne fedrekvoten |newspaper=[[Klassekampen]] |url=http://www.klassekampen.no/59726/article/item |date=January 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 28, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108031943/http://www.klassekampen.no/59726/article/item |archivedate=January 8, 2012 |df= }}</ref> Lysbakken also wrote a book entitled "Liberty, equality and fatherhood", which was published in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lode|first=Veslemøy|title=Slik blir den nye foreldrepermisjonen|language=Norwegian|trans-title=This is the new parental leave|newspaper=[[Dagbladet]]|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/10/24/nyheter/audun_lysbakken/politikk/innenriks/likestilling/18750746/|date=October 25, 2011|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>
During Lysbakken's term in office, he oversaw an increase in the funding of child protection services by over 300 million kroner per year, amounting to about 1000 new child protection workers nationwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barnevernsløftet |language=Norwegian |trans-title=Strengthening of Child Protection Services |publisher=[[Council_of_State_(Norway)]] |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/barnevernsloftet/id660164/ |date=October 6, 2011 |accessdate=May 14, 2018}}</ref> The parental leave and the [[Daddy quota|father's quota]] were also extended after propositions from his office.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ekeberg |first=Emilie |title=Two out of three want to abolish the father's quota |language=Norwegian |trans-title=To av tre vil fjerne fedrekvoten |newspaper=[[Klassekampen]] |url=http://www.klassekampen.no/59726/article/item |date=January 2, 2012 |accessdate=February 28, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108031943/http://www.klassekampen.no/59726/article/item |archivedate=January 8, 2012 |df= }}</ref> Lysbakken also wrote a book entitled "Liberty, equality and fatherhood", which was published in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lode|first=Veslemøy|title=Slik blir den nye foreldrepermisjonen|language=Norwegian|trans-title=This is the new parental leave|newspaper=[[Dagbladet]]|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/10/24/nyheter/audun_lysbakken/politikk/innenriks/likestilling/18750746/|date=October 25, 2011|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>


Lysbakken resigned from his office on 5 March 2012 (see [[Audun Lysbakken#Self-defense case|"self-defense case"]] below).<ref>{{cite news|author1=Sjur Øverås Knudsen|author2=Siv Sandvik|author3=Martin Herman Wiedswang Zondag|title=Store endringer i SVs stortingsgruppe|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Large changes in the Socialist Left's parliamentary group|publisher=[[Norsk Rikskringkasting]]|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.8050825|date=March 26, 2012|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref>
==="Self-defense" case and resignation as minister===
⚫
In January 2012, the newspaper ''[[Dagbladet]]'' reported that the [[Minister of Children and Equality (Norway)|Ministry of Children and Equality]] had awarded NOK 500,000 to two groups to fund [[Self-defense#Self-defense education|self-defense education]] for high school girls.<ref name="Breaking">{{cite news|title=Ga voldtektspenger til sine egne|author1=Tore Bergsaker|author2=Marie Melgård|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Gave rape money to his own|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/01/25/nyheter/selvforsvar/lysbakken/likestilling/politikk/19933412/|publisher=[[Dagbladet]]|date=January 25, 2012|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> One of the organizations, receiving NOK 154,000, was Jenteforsvaret (lit: "Girl-defence"), a subgroup of [[Socialist Youth (Norway)|Socialist Youth]], his own party's youth organization. Although approved by parliament to combat a recent spike in [[sexual assault]]s, the allocation was made without public notice, in violation of internal government rules.<ref name="Breaking"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Selvforsvarskurs skal verve SU-ere|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Self defense courses to recruit Socialist Youth|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.8013808|publisher=[[Norsk Rikskringkasting]]|date=February 28, 2012|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> As Lysbakken was on parental leave when the case broke, his [[State secretary]], [[Henriette Westhrin]], reported that the allocation was made according to "completely normal procedure". Lysbakken later apologized unreservedly, calling the affair an "error of judgment" on his behalf and promising a "full review" of the Ministry's past funding of external projects.<ref name="Breaking"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Viseth|first=Ellen|title=Anundsen vil kreve svar fra Lysbakken om selvforsvarspenger|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Anundsen will demand answers from Lysbakken regarding self-defense money|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=10076834|newspaper=VG.no|date=2012-02-25}}</ref>


⚫
===Party leadership===
In the wake of the disclosure, Lysbakken's conflict of interest in the allocation of funds to the NGO Reform, where he had been a member of the board until assuming his ministerial post, also came to attention.<ref>{{cite news|title=Båndet som felte Lysbakken|language=Norwegian|trans-title=The connection that felled Lysbakken|author1=Gunnar Stavrum|author2=Ole Eikeland|url=http://www.na24.no/article3349603.ece|publisher=[[NA24]]|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=June 6, 2012}}</ref> The [[Kristelig Folkeparti|Christian Democrats]] also questioned an award of NOK 300,000 to distribute a [[sexual education]] book for children, authored by members of his party.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gillesvik|first=Kjetil|title=Ga pengestøtte til partivenns bok|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=10052587|accessdate=2012-07-30|newspaper=Vg.no|date=2012-02-25|language=Norwegian}}</ref> The Norwegian parliament's [[Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs]] opened a [[public inquiry]] into the misuse of public funds under Lysbakken's leadership.<ref>{{cite news|last=NTB|title=Åpner sak mot Lysbakken|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Inquiry opened on Lysbakken|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10078497|accessdate=2012-02-25|newspaper=Vg.no|date=2012-02-25}}</ref> As a result of the affair, he resigned as minister on 5 March 2012.<ref name="resignation"/>
After resigning as a Minister Lysbakken resumed his duties as a representative in Stortinget and the position as parliamentary leader, now holding a seat on the Parliament's Standing Committee on Health and Social Services, as well as the Enlarged Standing Committee on Foreign and Defence Affairs.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Sjur Øverås Knudsen|author2=Siv Sandvik|author3=Martin Herman Wiedswang Zondag|title=Store endringer i SVs stortingsgruppe|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Large changes in the Socialist Left's parliamentary group|publisher=[[Norsk Rikskringkasting]]|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.8050825|date=March 26, 2012|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref><ref name="storbio"/> On 10 March, he was elected party leader. Later in the period, he changed to the Standing Committee on Schools and Education. After the Parliamentary elections of 2017, he rejoined the Standing Committee on Foreign and Defence Affairs.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Stortinget]]|url=https://www.stortinget.no/no/Representanter-og-komiteer/Representantene/Representantfordeling/Representant/?perid=ALYS|title=Biografi: Lysbakken, Audun Bjørlo|trans-title=Biography: Lysbakken, Audun Bjørlo|accessdate=May 14, 2018}}</ref>
Under Lysbakken's leadership, The Socialist Left Party, which had declined steadily in the polls since joining Jens Stoltenberg’s “Red-Green” government, bounced back, increasing its parliamentary group after gains in the [[Norwegian parliamentary election, 2017|2017 elections]]. The party's election campaign in 2017 and Lysbakken as party leader was awarded the prize for best campaign by a panel in the publicity industry magazine Kampanje, and the media-industry newspaper Medier24.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fire intense uker og mange debatter senere: Audun Lysbakken er valgkampens klare vinner|trans-title=Four intense weeks and many debates later: Audun Lysbakken is the best campaigner of this election season |url=https://www.medier24.no/artikler/fire-intense-uker-og-mange-debatter-senere-audun-lysbakken-er-valgkampens-klare-vinner/405531 |publisher=[[Medier24]] |date=September 9, 2017 |accessdate=May 14, 2018}</ref> Several commentators agreed that Lysbakken was the “winner” of several of the biggest televised debates.<ref>{{cite news|title=SV-jubel over kraftig medlemsvekst|language=Norwegian|trans-title=SV rejoices over membership growth|url=https://www.dn.no/nyheter/2018/01/10/0548/Politikk/sv-jubel-over-kraftig-medlemsvekst|publisher=[[Dagens Næringsliv]]|date=January 10, 2018|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SV vokser videre etter godt valg|language=Norwegian|trans-title=SV continues to grow after good elections|url=https://www.vl.no/nyhet/sv-vokser-videre-etter-et-godt-valg-1.1032493?paywall=true|publisher=[[Vårt Land (Norwegian newspaper)|Vårt Land]]|date=September 28, 2017|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref>


The campaign, focusing on issues of inequality, climate change and education, also resulted in a growth in voter share. The party gained almost 50 % in the number of votes since the poor showing in the 2013 elections, gaining 4 new seats in Parliament and 176.000 votes, corresponding to a 6,0 % voter share.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Norwegian Institute for Social Research]]|url=https://www.samfunnsforskning.no/aktuelt/nyheter/2017/valget-2017%3A-slik-flyttet-velgerne-seg.html|title=Valget 2017: Slik beveget velgerne seg|trans-title=The 2017 Elections: These are the voter exchanges|date=November 8, 2017|accessdate=May 14, 2018}}</ref> Party membership rose in parallel. In early 2018, the party had over 11.000 members, the highest number since the early nineties.<ref>{{cite news|title=SV-jubel over kraftig medlemsvekst|language=Norwegian|trans-title=SV rejoices over membership growth|url=https://www.dn.no/nyheter/2018/01/10/0548/Politikk/sv-jubel-over-kraftig-medlemsvekst|publisher=[[Dagens Næringsliv]]|date=January 10, 2018|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
His conduct was labeled "political corruption" by anti-corruption watchdog [[Transparency International]]'s Norwegian branch,<ref>{{cite news|last=Tandstad|first=Bent|title=Dette er Politisk Korrupsjon|language=Norwegian|trans-title=This is political corruption|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.7999689|newspaper=Nrk.no|date=2012-02-25}}</ref> a position that was echoed by scholar [[Petter Gottschalk]], who pointed out that Lysbakken was in position to expect favours in return for the funds.<ref>{{cite web|last=NTB|title=Professor mener Lysbakken-bevilgning er korrupsjon|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Professor-mener-Lysbakken-bevilgning-er-korrupsjon-6751245.html#.T0lfL-Up_Lw|publisher=Aftenposten.no|accessdate=2012-02-25}}</ref> When the case broke, Lysbakken was campaigning to be elected leader of the Socialist Left Party, and the recipients of the funds were among his supporters.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bergsaker|first=Tore|title=Lysbakken har ikke tenkt til å trekke seg|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/02/25/nyheter/lysbakken/politikk/innenriks/sv/20407508/|accessdate=2012-02-25|newspaper=Dagbladet.no}}</ref>
Professor of Law, Jan Fridthjof Bernt, however, asserted that although the case was clearly one of poor practice, there were no signs of criminal action.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dag Håkon Hellevik|title=Uryddig, men ikke ulovlig|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Poor practice, but not illegal|publisher=Ukeavisen ledelse|url=http://www.ukeavisenledelse.no/nyheter/uryddig-men-ikke-ulovlig/|date=February 29, 2012|accessdate=June 6, 2012}}</ref> The [[National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime in Norway|Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic Crime]] or (''Økokrim'') in fact stated that the police did not have the jurisdiction over the matter, and for Lysbakken to be prosecuted, he would have had to be [[impeachment|impeached]] by parliament. According to analysts, the impeachment of Lysbakken was unlikely at best due to his party being part of the majority coalition.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bergsaker|first=Tore|title=-Vil ikke etterforske Lysbakken|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/03/08/nyheter/sv/lysbakken/politikk/regjeringen/20592396/|accessdate=2012-07-30|newspaper=Dagbladet.no|date=2012-03-08|language=Norwegian}}</ref>


====Aftermath====
==="Self-defense" case===
⚫
In January 2012, the newspaper ''[[Dagbladet]]'' reported that the [[Minister of Children and Equality (Norway)|Ministry of Children and Equality]] had awarded NOK 500,000 to two groups to fund [[Self-defense#Self-defense education|self-defense education]] for high school girls.<ref name="Breaking">{{cite news|title=Ga voldtektspenger til sine egne|author1=Tore Bergsaker|author2=Marie Melgård|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Gave rape money to his own|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/01/25/nyheter/selvforsvar/lysbakken/likestilling/politikk/19933412/|publisher=[[Dagbladet]]|date=January 25, 2012|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> Although approved by parliament to combat a recent spike in [[sexual assault]]s, the allocation was made without public notice, in violation of internal government rules.<ref name="Breaking"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Selvforsvarskurs skal verve SU-ere|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Self defense courses to recruit Socialist Youth|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.8013808|publisher=[[Norsk Rikskringkasting]]|date=February 28, 2012|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> As Lysbakken was on parental leave when the case broke, his [[State secretary]], [[Henriette Westhrin]], reported that the allocation was made according to "completely normal procedure". Lysbakken later apologized unreservedly, calling the affair an "error of judgment" on his behalf and promising a "full review" of the Ministry's past funding of external projects.<ref name="Breaking"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Viseth|first=Ellen|title=Anundsen vil kreve svar fra Lysbakken om selvforsvarspenger|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Anundsen will demand answers from Lysbakken regarding self-defense money|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=10076834|newspaper=VG.no|date=2012-02-25}}</ref>
⚫
Not only Lysbakken, but also one of his [[State secretary (Norway)|State secretaries]], [[Kirsti Bergstø]], and the non-political [[Permanent secretary|permanent under-secretary of state]], [[Harald Nybøen]], resigned as a consequence of the case.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kirsti Bergstø slutter som statssekretær|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Kirsti Bergstø resigns from post as State secretary|publisher=[[Verdens Gang]]/[[Norsk Telegrambyrå]]|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=10061333|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gedde-Dahl|first=Siri|title=Audun Lysbakkens departementsråd går av|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Audun Lysbakken's permanent secretary resigns|newspaper=[[Aftenposten]]|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Audun-Lysbakkens-departementsrad-gar-av-6779140.html|date=March 8, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref> Based on statements by Lysbakken, alleging that "this could have happened in many ministries", the Parliament initiated a wide-reaching inquiry into the ministries' allocations to external beneficiaries. During this inquiry's final hearing, Lysbakken was lauded by opposition leader of the [[Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs]], [[Anders Anundsen]], for taking his constitutional responsibility and resigning, and his successor [[Inga Marte Thorkildsen]] received praise for taking measures "which could make one of the worst ministries into one of the best" in its allocation practices. The inquiry exposed irregularities in the allocation practices of several ministries.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bergsaker|first1=Tore|last2=Kristiansen|first2=Bjørn S.|title=Hyllet Lysbakken for at han gikk av|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Praised Lysbakken for resigning|newspaper=[[Dagbladet]]|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/01/10/nyheter/innenriks/politikk/regjeringen/kontroll_og_konstitusjonskomiteen/25168016/|date=January 10, 2013|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref> At an earlier hearing, one member of the Standing Committee, [[Per-Kristian Foss]], said in regards to the Ministry of Children and Equality that he believed that the malpractices were a "Lysbakken issue".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sørenes|first1=Kjetil Magne|last2=Kristiansen|first2=Bjørn S.|last3=Aurdal|first3=Martine|last4=Bergsaker|first4=Tore|title=Dette har vært en Lysbakken-sak|language=Norwegian|trans-title=This has been a Lysbakken-issue|newspaper=[[Dagbladet]]|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/10/02/nyheter/innenriks/politikk/tilskuddssaken/jenteforsvarssaken/23665810/|date=October 2, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>


In the wake of the disclosure, Lysbakken's conflict of interest in the allocation of funds to the NGO Reform, where he had been a member of the board until assuming his ministerial post, also came to attention.<ref>{{cite news|title=Båndet som felte Lysbakken|language=Norwegian|trans-title=The connection that felled Lysbakken|author1=Gunnar Stavrum|author2=Ole Eikeland|url=http://www.na24.no/article3349603.ece|publisher=[[NA24]]|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=June 6, 2012}}</ref> The Norwegian parliament's [[Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs]] opened a [[public inquiry]] into the misuse of public funds under Lysbakken's leadership.<ref>{{cite news|last=NTB|title=Åpner sak mot Lysbakken|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Inquiry opened on Lysbakken|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10078497|accessdate=2012-02-25|newspaper=Vg.no|date=2012-02-25}}</ref> As a result of the affair, he resigned as minister on 5 March 2012.<ref name="resignation"/> Not only Lysbakken, but also one of his [[State secretary (Norway)|State secretaries]], [[Kirsti Bergstø]], and the non-political [[Permanent secretary|permanent under-secretary of state]], [[Harald Nybøen]], resigned as a consequence of the case.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kirsti Bergstø slutter som statssekretær|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Kirsti Bergstø resigns from post as State secretary|publisher=[[Verdens Gang]]/[[Norsk Telegrambyrå]]|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=10061333|date=March 5, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gedde-Dahl|first=Siri|title=Audun Lysbakkens departementsråd går av|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Audun Lysbakken's permanent secretary resigns|newspaper=[[Aftenposten]]|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Audun-Lysbakkens-departementsrad-gar-av-6779140.html|date=March 8, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>
⚫
===Party leadership===

After resigning as a Minister on 5 March 2012,<ref name="resignation">{{cite news|last=Lundervold|first=Linn|title=Audun Lysbakken trekker seg|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Audun Lysbakken resigns|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/03/05/nyheter/innenriks/audun_lysbakken/politikk/20539685/|newspaper=Dagbladet.no}}</ref> he resumed his duties as a representative in Stortinget and the position as parliamentary leader,<ref>{{cite news|author1=Sjur Øverås Knudsen|author2=Siv Sandvik|author3=Martin Herman Wiedswang Zondag|title=Store endringer i SVs stortingsgruppe|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Large changes in the Socialist Left's parliamentary group|publisher=[[Norsk Rikskringkasting]]|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.8050825|date=March 26, 2012|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> now holding a seat on the Parliament's Standing Committee on Health and Social Services, as well as the Enlarged Standing Committee on Foreign and Defence Affairs.<ref name="storbio"/> On 10 March, he was elected party leader.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Løset |first1=Ketil |last2=Teige Stiegler |first2=Ingvil |title=Audun Lysbakken valgt til SV-leder mot 15 blanke stemmer |language=Norwegian |trans-title=Audun Lysbakken elected leader of the Socialist Left against 15 blank votes |url=http://politisk.tv2.no/nyheter/heikki-holmas-hadde-jeg-v%C3%A6rt-delegat-hadde-jeg-stemt-pa-audun/ |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314183555/http://politisk.tv2.no/nyheter/heikki-holmas-hadde-jeg-v%C3%A6rt-delegat-hadde-jeg-stemt-pa-audun/ |archivedate=2013-03-14 |df= }}</ref>
⚫
His conduct was labeled "political corruption" by anti-corruption watchdog [[Transparency International]]'s Norwegian branch,<ref>{{cite news|last=Tandstad|first=Bent|title=Dette er politisk korrupsjon|language=Norwegian|trans-title=This is political corruption|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.7999689|newspaper=Nrk.no|date=2012-02-25}}</ref> a position that was echoed by scholar [[Petter Gottschalk]].<ref>{{cite web|last=NTB|title=Professor mener Lysbakken-bevilgning er korrupsjon|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Professor-mener-Lysbakken-bevilgning-er-korrupsjon-6751245.html#.T0lfL-Up_Lw|publisher=Aftenposten.no|accessdate=2012-02-25}}</ref> Professor of Law, Jan Fridthjof Bernt, however, asserted that while the case was clearly one of poor practice, there were no signs of criminal action.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dag Håkon Hellevik|title=Uryddig, men ikke ulovlig|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Poor practice, but not illegal|publisher=Ukeavisen ledelse|url=http://www.ukeavisenledelse.no/nyheter/uryddig-men-ikke-ulovlig/|date=February 29, 2012|accessdate=June 6, 2012}}</ref> Based on statements by Lysbakken, alleging that "this could have happened in many ministries", the Parliament initiated a wide-reaching inquiry into the ministries' allocations to external beneficiaries. During this inquiry's final hearing, Lysbakken was lauded by opposition leader of the [[Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs]], [[Anders Anundsen]], for taking his constitutional responsibility and resigning, and his successor [[Inga Marte Thorkildsen]] received praise for taking measures "which could make one of the worst ministries into one of the best" in its allocation practices. The inquiry exposed irregularities in the allocation practices of several ministries.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bergsaker|first1=Tore|last2=Kristiansen|first2=Bjørn S.|title=Hyllet Lysbakken for at han gikk av|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Praised Lysbakken for resigning|newspaper=[[Dagbladet]]|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/01/10/nyheter/innenriks/politikk/regjeringen/kontroll_og_konstitusjonskomiteen/25168016/|date=January 10, 2013|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>


==Political views==
==Political views==
As deputy leader of the Socialist Youth, Lysbakken described himself as a [[Marxist]], and expressed wishes to "abolish [[capitalism]]" as well as the [[Oslo Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Marianne|last=Johansen|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=110048|title=SV-nestleder vil fjerne børsen|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Socialist Left deputy leader wants to abolish the stock exchange|work=Verdens Gang|date=29 November 2005}}</ref> In a study booklet for the Socialist Youth that he co-authored, called ''Manifest 02'', he called for a ban on the right to privately own [[means of production]] as well as [[wage labour]].<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Torbjørn Røe Isaksen]]|url=http://www.minervanett.no/marxist-i-regjeringen/|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Editorial blog:Marxist in the Government|title=Redaksjonsblogg: Marxist i regjeringen|work=[[Minerva (gazette)|Minerva.no]]|date=21 October 2009|accessdate=}}</ref> He argued for his views in a 2005 interview,<ref>{{cite news|title=Rakrygget slangemenneske|author=Håkon Gundersen|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Contortionist with a spine|publisher=[[Morgenbladet]]|url=http://morgenbladet.no/samfunn/2005/rakrygget_slangemenneske|date=December 2, 2005|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> and was defended by Prime Minister [[Jens Stoltenberg|Stoltenberg]] when appointed minister in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stoltenbergs marxist |language=Norwegian |trans-title=Stoltenberg's marxist |author=Per Anders Johansen |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article3330503.ece |publisher=[[Aftenposten]] |date=October 21, 2009 |accessdate=June 5, 2012 |display-authors=etal |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009012554/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article3330503.ece |archivedate=October 9, 2012 |df= }}</ref> During his campaign to be elected party leader in 2011, he said that "Ten years ago, when I was elected as a representative to the Parliament, I called myself a revolutionary marxist. I no longer do. The world has changed, and the Socialist Left has changed."<ref>{{cite news|title=Vil bli en samlende leder|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Will become unifying leader|author=Marie Melgård|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/09/19/nyheter/politikk/sv/innenriks/lysbakken/18201575/|publisher=[[Dagbladet]]|date=September 19, 2011|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}.</ref> In 2009, he co-authored a book, arguing that the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2010|financial crisis]] demonstrated, among other things, a need for greater [[economic democracy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=SV-nestleder vil la folket kreve nyvalg |language=Norwegian |trans-title=Socialist Left deputy leader wants to give the people the right to recall parliament |author=Veslemøy Lode |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/04/27/nyheter/innenriks/demokrati/politikk/5935216/ |publisher=[[Dagbladet]] |date=April 27, 2009 |accessdate=June 5, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011141410/http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/04/27/nyheter/innenriks/demokrati/politikk/5935216/ |archivedate=October 11, 2012 |df= }}.</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Audun Lysbakken|author2=Ingvar Skjerve|title=Deltakerne: En reise i demokratiets framtid|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Participants: A Journey in the Future of Democracy|publisher=[[Forlaget Manifest]]|year=2009|location=Oslo|isbn=978-82-92866-13-9}}</ref>
In his 2015 book, ''Frihet Sammen'' (''Freedom Together''), Lysbakken describes himself as a [[Democratic Socialism|democratic socialist]], a [[feminism|feminist|] and an [[environmentalism|environmentalist]]. He puts inequality and injustice at the centre of his political project, arguing that the left should prioritize the reduction of economic and social inequality. He makes the case that SV is a party rooted as strongly in socialist views as in the green, environmental tradition, and that he sees the question of climate change in terms of intergenerational and international equity.<ref name="frihet">{{cite book|last=Lysbakken|first=Audun Bjørlo|date=2015|title=Frihet sammen|trans-title=Freedom Together|location=[[Oslo]]|publisher=[[Gyldendal Norsk Forlag]]|isbn=9788205480940}}</ref> In 2009, he co-authored a book, arguing that the [[Financial crisis of 2007–2010|financial crisis]] demonstrated, among other things, a need for greater [[economic democracy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=SV-nestleder vil la folket kreve nyvalg |language=Norwegian |trans-title=Socialist Left deputy leader wants to give the people the right to recall parliament |author=Veslemøy Lode |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/04/27/nyheter/innenriks/demokrati/politikk/5935216/ |publisher=[[Dagbladet]] |date=April 27, 2009 |accessdate=June 5, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011141410/http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/04/27/nyheter/innenriks/demokrati/politikk/5935216/ |archivedate=October 11, 2012 |df= }}.</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Audun Lysbakken|author2=Ingvar Skjerve|title=Deltakerne: En reise i demokratiets framtid|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Participants: A Journey in the Future of Democracy|publisher=[[Forlaget Manifest]]|year=2009|location=Oslo|isbn=978-82-92866-13-9}}</ref>

===Quotes===
''"Capitalism is no fun, that's why I am against it"'' (On capitalism, 12.06.2004)

''"Secrecy is a culture which we don't want, it is suppressing the morale, we need transparency"'' (In response to the lack of transparency in politics, 24.05.2004)


Earlier, as deputy leader of the Socialist Youth, Lysbakken described himself as a [[Marxist]], and expressed wishes to "abolish [[capitalism]]" as well as the [[Oslo Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Marianne|last=Johansen|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=110048|title=SV-nestleder vil fjerne børsen|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Socialist Left deputy leader wants to abolish the stock exchange|work=Verdens Gang|date=29 November 2005}}</ref> In a study booklet for the Socialist Youth that he co-authored, called ''Manifest 02'', he called for a ban on the right to privately own [[means of production]] as well as [[wage labour]].<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Torbjørn Røe Isaksen]]|url=http://www.minervanett.no/marxist-i-regjeringen/|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Editorial blog:Marxist in the Government|title=Redaksjonsblogg: Marxist i regjeringen|work=[[Minerva (gazette)|Minerva.no]]|date=21 October 2009|accessdate=}}</ref> He argued for his views in a 2005 interview,<ref>{{cite news|title=Rakrygget slangemenneske|author=Håkon Gundersen|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Contortionist with a spine|publisher=[[Morgenbladet]]|url=http://morgenbladet.no/samfunn/2005/rakrygget_slangemenneske|date=December 2, 2005|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}</ref> and was defended by Prime Minister [[Jens Stoltenberg|Stoltenberg]] when appointed minister in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stoltenbergs marxist |language=Norwegian |trans-title=Stoltenberg's marxist |author=Per Anders Johansen |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article3330503.ece |publisher=[[Aftenposten]] |date=October 21, 2009 |accessdate=June 5, 2012 |display-authors=etal |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009012554/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article3330503.ece |archivedate=October 9, 2012 |df= }}</ref> During his campaign to be elected party leader in 2011, he said that "Ten years ago, when I was elected as a representative to the Parliament, I called myself a revolutionary marxist. I no longer do. The world has changed, and the Socialist Left has changed."<ref>{{cite news|title=Vil bli en samlende leder|language=Norwegian|trans-title=Will become unifying leader|author=Marie Melgård|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/09/19/nyheter/politikk/sv/innenriks/lysbakken/18201575/|publisher=[[Dagbladet]]|date=September 19, 2011|accessdate=June 5, 2012}}.</ref>
''"I like to dress nice and have no desire to wear jeans and sneakers in parliament in order to protest against the establishment. The problem is that parliament's definition of nice clothes is very narrow."'' (In response to the [[dress code]] in the Norwegian parliament, 18.11.2001) <ref>{{cite news|last=Pettersen|first=Eirik|title=Lysbakken : hemmelighold vil vi ikke ha|url=http://www.na24.no/article3352957.ece|newspaper=Na24.no}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 12:45, 14 May 2018

Audun Lysbakken
MP
Leader of the Socialist Left Party
Assumed office
11 March 2012
Preceded byKristin Halvorsen
Minister of Children and Equality
In office
20 October 2009 – 5 March 2012
Prime MinisterJens Stoltenberg
Preceded byAnniken Huitfeldt
Succeeded byInga Marte Thorkildsen
Member of the Norwegian Parliament
Assumed office
20 October 2009
In office
22 October 2001 – 20 September 2005
ConstituencyHordaland
Personal details
Born (1977-09-30) 30 September 1977 (age 46)
Bergen, Norway
Political partySocialist Left Party
SpouseSiv Mjaaland
Children2
Alma materBergen Handelsgymnasium
University of Bergen

Audun Bjørlo Lysbakken (born 30 September 1977) is a Norwegian politician and the current leader of the Norwegian Socialist Left Party. His career in national politics began when he was elected to the Norwegian parliament in 2001. In 2006, he became deputy leader of The Socialist Left Party. He held the post as Minister of Children and Equality in Jens Stoltenberg's second government from October 2009 to March 2012, when he resigned due to a conflict of interest.[1] Under his leadership, the Socialist party has had strong gains in its vote share in Parliamentary elections and membership.[2][3]

Early life and education

Lysbakken is the son of actor Sigurd Lysbakken (1947–1994) and cultural worker and author Geirdis Bjørlo (1952). He attended primary school at Møhlenpris elementary school (1984–1993), and high school at Bergen Handelsgymnasium (1993–1996). He has university minors in French and comparative politics from the University of Bergen (1996–1998). After his university studies, he performed mandatory civil service instead of conscript military duty, serving as a secretary at Norsk Økologisk Landbrukslag and as a journalist in the daily Klassekampen 2000–2001.[4]

Political career

Early career

Lysbakken held various posts in the youth NGOs Ungdom mot EU and Nature and Youth 1995–1996, and was involved in student politics during his university studies 1998–1999. Lysbakken held his first post in Socialist Youth, the Socialist Left party's youth organization, as leader of its Bergen chapter in 1996–1998, and went on to be elected leader of the county (Hordaland) organization in 1998–2000. He was deputy leader of the Socialist Youth's national organization 2000–2002.

Lysbakken's first public office was as member of the Bergen City Council in 1999–2000. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 2001 as a representative for Hordaland county. He was a member of the parliament's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. He was not re-elected in 2005, but became first deputy representative. He was elected deputy leader of the Socialist Left Party on 18 February 2006.

Government office

Main article: Jens Stoltenberg's second term as Prime Minister of Norway

In 2009, Lysbakken reclaimed a seat in Parliament from Hordaland, and was appointed to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. He was named parliamentary leader of his party group,[5] but was shortly thereafter appointed as Minister of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion in Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet on 20 October 2009, as the first man to hold this post. When Lysbakken was appointed to the ministry, his deputy Gina Barstad took his place in Parliament.

During Lysbakken's term in office, he oversaw an increase in the funding of child protection services by over 300 million kroner per year, amounting to about 1000 new child protection workers nationwide.[6] The parental leave and the father's quota were also extended after propositions from his office.[7] Lysbakken also wrote a book entitled "Liberty, equality and fatherhood", which was published in 2011.[8]

Lysbakken resigned from his office on 5 March 2012 (see "self-defense case" below).[9]

Party leadership

After resigning as a Minister Lysbakken resumed his duties as a representative in Stortinget and the position as parliamentary leader, now holding a seat on the Parliament's Standing Committee on Health and Social Services, as well as the Enlarged Standing Committee on Foreign and Defence Affairs.[10][4] On 10 March, he was elected party leader. Later in the period, he changed to the Standing Committee on Schools and Education. After the Parliamentary elections of 2017, he rejoined the Standing Committee on Foreign and Defence Affairs.[11]

Under Lysbakken's leadership, The Socialist Left Party, which had declined steadily in the polls since joining Jens Stoltenberg’s “Red-Green” government, bounced back, increasing its parliamentary group after gains in the 2017 elections. The party's election campaign in 2017 and Lysbakken as party leader was awarded the prize for best campaign by a panel in the publicity industry magazine Kampanje, and the media-industry newspaper Medier24.[12] Several commentators agreed that Lysbakken was the “winner” of several of the biggest televised debates.[13][14]

The campaign, focusing on issues of inequality, climate change and education, also resulted in a growth in voter share. The party gained almost 50 % in the number of votes since the poor showing in the 2013 elections, gaining 4 new seats in Parliament and 176.000 votes, corresponding to a 6,0 % voter share.[15] Party membership rose in parallel. In early 2018, the party had over 11.000 members, the highest number since the early nineties.[16]

"Self-defense" case

In January 2012, the newspaper Dagbladet reported that the Ministry of Children and Equality had awarded NOK 500,000 to two groups to fund self-defense education for high school girls.[17] Although approved by parliament to combat a recent spike in sexual assaults, the allocation was made without public notice, in violation of internal government rules.[17][18] As Lysbakken was on parental leave when the case broke, his State secretary, Henriette Westhrin, reported that the allocation was made according to "completely normal procedure". Lysbakken later apologized unreservedly, calling the affair an "error of judgment" on his behalf and promising a "full review" of the Ministry's past funding of external projects.[17][19]

In the wake of the disclosure, Lysbakken's conflict of interest in the allocation of funds to the NGO Reform, where he had been a member of the board until assuming his ministerial post, also came to attention.[20] The Norwegian parliament's Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs opened a public inquiry into the misuse of public funds under Lysbakken's leadership.[21] As a result of the affair, he resigned as minister on 5 March 2012.[22] Not only Lysbakken, but also one of his State secretaries, Kirsti Bergstø, and the non-political permanent under-secretary of state, Harald Nybøen, resigned as a consequence of the case.[23][24]

His conduct was labeled "political corruption" by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International's Norwegian branch,[25] a position that was echoed by scholar Petter Gottschalk.[26] Professor of Law, Jan Fridthjof Bernt, however, asserted that while the case was clearly one of poor practice, there were no signs of criminal action.[27] Based on statements by Lysbakken, alleging that "this could have happened in many ministries", the Parliament initiated a wide-reaching inquiry into the ministries' allocations to external beneficiaries. During this inquiry's final hearing, Lysbakken was lauded by opposition leader of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, Anders Anundsen, for taking his constitutional responsibility and resigning, and his successor Inga Marte Thorkildsen received praise for taking measures "which could make one of the worst ministries into one of the best" in its allocation practices. The inquiry exposed irregularities in the allocation practices of several ministries.[28]

Political views

In his 2015 book, Frihet Sammen (Freedom Together), Lysbakken describes himself as a democratic socialist, a [[feminism|feminist|] and an environmentalist. He puts inequality and injustice at the centre of his political project, arguing that the left should prioritize the reduction of economic and social inequality. He makes the case that SV is a party rooted as strongly in socialist views as in the green, environmental tradition, and that he sees the question of climate change in terms of intergenerational and international equity.[29] In 2009, he co-authored a book, arguing that the financial crisis demonstrated, among other things, a need for greater economic democracy.[30][31]

Earlier, as deputy leader of the Socialist Youth, Lysbakken described himself as a Marxist, and expressed wishes to "abolish capitalism" as well as the Oslo Stock Exchange.[32] In a study booklet for the Socialist Youth that he co-authored, called Manifest 02, he called for a ban on the right to privately own means of production as well as wage labour.[33] He argued for his views in a 2005 interview,[34] and was defended by Prime Minister Stoltenberg when appointed minister in 2009.[35] During his campaign to be elected party leader in 2011, he said that "Ten years ago, when I was elected as a representative to the Parliament, I called myself a revolutionary marxist. I no longer do. The world has changed, and the Socialist Left has changed."[36]

References

  1. ^ "Lysbakken går av, men stiller som lederkandidat" [Lysbakken resigns, but upholds candidacy for party leader] (in Norwegian). Norsk Telegrambyrå/abcnyheter.no. March 5, 2012. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "SV-jubel over kraftig medlemsvekst" [SV rejoices over membership growth] (in Norwegian). Dagens Næringsliv. January 10, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  3. ^ "SV vokser videre etter godt valg" [SV continues to grow after good elections] (in Norwegian). Vårt Land. September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Audun Lysbakken" (in Norwegian). Storting. (Official parliament biography)
  5. ^ "Lysbakken parlamentarisk leder i SV" [Lysbakken parliamentary leader for Socialist Left] (in Norwegian). Norsk Telegrambyrå/Verdens Gang. October 9, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  6. ^ "Barnevernsløftet" [Strengthening of Child Protection Services] (in Norwegian). Council_of_State_(Norway). October 6, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  7. ^ Ekeberg, Emilie (January 2, 2012). "Two out of three want to abolish the father's quota" [To av tre vil fjerne fedrekvoten]. Klassekampen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Lode, Veslemøy (October 25, 2011). "Slik blir den nye foreldrepermisjonen" [This is the new parental leave]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  9. ^ Sjur Øverås Knudsen; Siv Sandvik; Martin Herman Wiedswang Zondag (March 26, 2012). "Store endringer i SVs stortingsgruppe" [Large changes in the Socialist Left's parliamentary group] (in Norwegian). Norsk Rikskringkasting. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  10. ^ Sjur Øverås Knudsen; Siv Sandvik; Martin Herman Wiedswang Zondag (March 26, 2012). "Store endringer i SVs stortingsgruppe" [Large changes in the Socialist Left's parliamentary group] (in Norwegian). Norsk Rikskringkasting. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  11. ^ "Biografi: Lysbakken, Audun Bjørlo" [Biography: Lysbakken, Audun Bjørlo]. Stortinget. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  12. ^ {{cite news|title=Fire intense uker og mange debatter senere: Audun Lysbakken er valgkampens klare vinner|trans-title=Four intense weeks and many debates later: Audun Lysbakken is the best campaigner of this election season |url=https://www.medier24.no/artikler/fire-intense-uker-og-mange-debatter-senere-audun-lysbakken-er-valgkampens-klare-vinner/405531 |publisher=Medier24 |date=September 9, 2017 |accessdate=May 14, 2018}
  13. ^ "SV-jubel over kraftig medlemsvekst" [SV rejoices over membership growth] (in Norwegian). Dagens Næringsliv. January 10, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  14. ^ "SV vokser videre etter godt valg" [SV continues to grow after good elections] (in Norwegian). Vårt Land. September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  15. ^ "Valget 2017: Slik beveget velgerne seg" [The 2017 Elections: These are the voter exchanges]. Norwegian Institute for Social Research. November 8, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  16. ^ "SV-jubel over kraftig medlemsvekst" [SV rejoices over membership growth] (in Norwegian). Dagens Næringsliv. January 10, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c Tore Bergsaker; Marie Melgård (January 25, 2012). "Ga voldtektspenger til sine egne" [Gave rape money to his own] (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  18. ^ "Selvforsvarskurs skal verve SU-ere" [Self defense courses to recruit Socialist Youth] (in Norwegian). Norsk Rikskringkasting. February 28, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  19. ^ Viseth, Ellen (2012-02-25). "Anundsen vil kreve svar fra Lysbakken om selvforsvarspenger" [Anundsen will demand answers from Lysbakken regarding self-defense money]. VG.no (in Norwegian).
  20. ^ Gunnar Stavrum; Ole Eikeland (March 5, 2012). "Båndet som felte Lysbakken" [The connection that felled Lysbakken] (in Norwegian). NA24. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  21. ^ NTB (2012-02-25). "Åpner sak mot Lysbakken" [Inquiry opened on Lysbakken]. Vg.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference resignation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ "Kirsti Bergstø slutter som statssekretær" [Kirsti Bergstø resigns from post as State secretary] (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang/Norsk Telegrambyrå. March 5, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  24. ^ Gedde-Dahl, Siri (March 8, 2012). "Audun Lysbakkens departementsråd går av" [Audun Lysbakken's permanent secretary resigns]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  25. ^ Tandstad, Bent (2012-02-25). "Dette er politisk korrupsjon" [This is political corruption]. Nrk.no (in Norwegian).
  26. ^ NTB. "Professor mener Lysbakken-bevilgning er korrupsjon". Aftenposten.no. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  27. ^ Dag Håkon Hellevik (February 29, 2012). "Uryddig, men ikke ulovlig" [Poor practice, but not illegal] (in Norwegian). Ukeavisen ledelse. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  28. ^ Bergsaker, Tore; Kristiansen, Bjørn S. (January 10, 2013). "Hyllet Lysbakken for at han gikk av" [Praised Lysbakken for resigning]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  29. ^ Lysbakken, Audun Bjørlo (2015). Frihet sammen [Freedom Together]. Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag. ISBN 9788205480940.
  30. ^ Veslemøy Lode (April 27, 2009). "SV-nestleder vil la folket kreve nyvalg" [Socialist Left deputy leader wants to give the people the right to recall parliament] (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help).
  31. ^ Audun Lysbakken; Ingvar Skjerve (2009). Deltakerne: En reise i demokratiets framtid [Participants: A Journey in the Future of Democracy] (in Norwegian). Oslo: Forlaget Manifest. ISBN 978-82-92866-13-9.
  32. ^ Johansen, Marianne (29 November 2005). "SV-nestleder vil fjerne børsen" [Socialist Left deputy leader wants to abolish the stock exchange]. Verdens Gang (in Norwegian).
  33. ^ Torbjørn Røe Isaksen (21 October 2009). "Redaksjonsblogg: Marxist i regjeringen" [Editorial blog:Marxist in the Government]. Minerva.no (in Norwegian).
  34. ^ Håkon Gundersen (December 2, 2005). "Rakrygget slangemenneske" [Contortionist with a spine] (in Norwegian). Morgenbladet. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  35. ^ Per Anders Johansen; et al. (October 21, 2009). "Stoltenbergs marxist" [Stoltenberg's marxist] (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ Marie Melgård (September 19, 2011). "Vil bli en samlende leder" [Will become unifying leader] (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved June 5, 2012..
Political offices
Preceded by Norwegian Minister of Children and Equality
2009–2012 		Succeeded by
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