– Should the state channel NRK be the one to decide who is “good enough Sami”? The circuit board is circling Sandra’s identity and recommends NRK to end the personal persecution, writes the circuit team in a press release signed by Frank Valø, circuit leader for the Gáisi constituency.
The constituency includes several municipalities in Troms, including the large city of Tromsø.
The background is that NRK has investigated whether Sandra Borch (Sp) meets the criteria to stand for election to the Sami Parliament. This is based on the fact that when Borch wanted to enter the Sámi Parliament in 2013, a person from his home village of Lavangen submitted a complaint. The person believed that Borch was not qualified to stand for election.
The constituency board for the Center Party in the Gáisi constituency believes that this matter was resolved already in 2013.
The case has also caused reactions among several people, but the broadcasting manager has vouched for it.
– We believe it is of public interest to investigate how the criteria for standing in the Sámi Parliament’s electorate are practiced, given the Sámi Parliament’s political power. An important part of NRK’s mission is to question power structures and investigate whether democratic rules of the game are followed, said NRK CEO Vibeke Fürst Haugen to Journalisten earlier this week.
Borch himself has complained about the NRK case to the PFU.
#Center #party #team #asks #NRK #stop #personal #persecution #Borch
**Interview with Frank Valø, Circuit Leader for the Gáisi Constituency**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Frank. Your constituency has made strong statements regarding NRK’s investigation into Sandra Borch’s eligibility for the Sámi Parliament. Can you elaborate on why you believe this matter should be considered resolved?
**Frank Valø:** Certainly. The issue dates back to 2013, when a complaint was lodged questioning Sandra’s qualifications. At that time, the matter was addressed, and it was determined that she met the criteria to stand for election. We believe revisiting this issue is unnecessary and serves only to undermine her identity and the progress she has made since then.
**Editor:** NRK has defended their investigation, citing public interest and their role in questioning power structures. What is your response to that?
**Frank Valø:** While we acknowledge the importance of media oversight, we believe that NRK’s focus on this individual case reflects a level of personal persecution. It’s crucial to distinguish between accountability and targeting someone for their identity, which is what we see happening here.
**Editor:** Given the emotional and cultural complexities surrounding identity within the Sámi community, how do you think this situation impacts public discourse on who is considered “good enough Sámi”?
**Frank Valø:** This situation risks creating division within our community. It suggests that external voices are empowered to dictate who belongs, rather than allowing our community to define itself. This should spark a debate about cultural identity and representation—especially about who decides the criteria for that representation.
**Editor:** What do you think readers should take away from this ongoing situation?
**Frank Valø:** I hope readers reflect on the importance of supporting elected representatives like Sandra Borch. We must ask ourselves: who should have the authority to determine one’s identity? Should it be a media organization or the community itself? This is a conversation worth having.
**Editor:** Thank you, Frank. This is certainly a complex issue that warrants further discussion. Readers, what do you think about NRK’s role in defining identity within the Sámi community? Is it necessary for them to investigate, or is it crossing a line into personal persecution? Join the conversation and share your thoughts.
