Erik Strand, 25.10.2026
This article in the Norwegian online newspaper iNyheter covers the circumstances around Sven Tore Løkslid (Labour Party) quitting the post as mayor in Telemark county.
Journalist Benjamin Bringsås comments that the media coverage of the case functions as a brilliant spin for the ruling Labour Party. The news is presented as a case of “forbidden love”. Bringsås points out that Løkslid himself announced on Facebook that he seeks to be dismissed from his position as mayor in Telemark county after having a “secret relationship” whit the woman who leads the Labour Party group in the conty council of Telemark.
There is one problem here. Secret relationships are not illegal; they do not even need to be illegitimate. As Bringsås points out, politicians are entitled to a private life. The problems arrise when the private life crosses the execution of power.
Løkslid and his secret girlfriend handled issues that were related to the other party without informing that they were legally incompetent.
According to the local newspaper Varden, the relationship lastet from spring 2023 until spring 2024. This period includes the electoral campaign in 2023, when Løkslid was elected county mayor, and his girlfriend Martine Tinderholt Øverland later became leader of the Labour Party’s parliamentary group in Telemark.
Bringsås mentions that the relationship was not so secret that the Labour Party’s county chapters had not heard rumours. The leader of the county chapter, Odin Adelsten Aunan Bohmann, says that the party discussed the issue with both of them at several occasions. One can read that both of them denied having a relationship.
The Labour Party describes the case as serious and add that lacking openness about the relationship has raised questions regarding confidence and understanding of one’s role.
Bringsås also describes an example where Løkslid’s undrstanding of his role has been an issue before,
In 2020, Løkslid was cdeputy mayor in Vestfold and Telemark county (Vestfold and Telemark county was later split in two, reintroducing the two pre-2026 counties with names Vestfold and Telemark). In June that year Løkslid personally presented a proposal in the election and regulation committee (valg- og reglementsnemnda) concerning paid parent leave for elected politicians. The local newspaper Telemarksavisa calculated that the motion had the consequence that Løkslid would get NOK 200 000 more than Nav (Norwegian welfare unit) covered.
At that time, Løkslid was deputy mayor in Vestfold and Telemark with an annual salary of NOK 987 997. In addition he was vice chairman in KS (interest organisastion for the municipal sector), adding another annual salary of NOK 600 000, in addtion to other income. The local newspaper Varden reported that Løkslid at this time had nearly NOK 2 000 000 in income, more than Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
Løkslid’s proposal for paid parental leave was unianimously adopted.
After having to quit as county mayor, Løkslid will not face a worsened personal economy. As one can read in this article, Løkslid has been granted three months salary after quitting as mayor. And he has been offered a well paid job as Municipal Director in the municipality of Kviteseid Municiplity, Telemark.
