Priest and Ap politician Odd Kristian Reme has died

Reme died following a short illness on Wednesday evening, writes Stavanger Aftenblad.

He was a politician in the Labor Party, where he sat on the central board for eleven years (2000–2011). In three local elections (1999, 2003 and 2007) he was the Stavanger Labor Party’s mayoral candidate.

He was also a priest in the Norwegian Church and, among other things, led the Church’s City Mission in Stavanger for eight years. He also had a strong commitment to Palestine.

Nationally, Reme distinguished himself in his work for the next of kin following the Alexander Kielland accident in 1980, where he himself lost his brother Rolf.

In recent years, he was particularly involved as head of the Kielland network, which worked to establish a new and independent investigation into the accident.

Prime Minister and Ap leader Jonas Gahr Støre says that he, and the Labor Party, receive the message regarding Reme’s passing with sadness.

– Odd Kristian “Kian” Reme was a very socially committed and prominent politician. I had a good and open relationship with him, says Støre to NTB.

He particularly highlights Kian’s social commitment, both when it came to the Kielland accident and the safety of oil workers, but also his commitment to the cause of the Palestinians.

– My thoughts go out to his family.