Post: #1

Another WTF situation...
I mean, how does it even work? Can't he say, a la Sherman, "I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected?"

How does the election law in Norway work?

Quote:Norwegian Black Metal Artist Elected to Local Office Against His Will
Black metal finds its Cincinnatus.

Christian Britschgi|Sep. 13, 2016 1:05 pm



Elections by their nature bring out shameless self-promotion from politicians. From Hillary Clinton's constant touting of her own "historic" significance as a candidate to Donald Trump's egomaniacal ravings, many Americans could be forgiven for desiring more self-effacing office seekers.

So Norway may offer a ray of hope for humanity. In the small town of Kolbotn, just outside of Oslo, political neophyte and international black metal sensation Fenriz (founding member of the band Darkthrone)­ has been elected to the town council as an alternate representative—despite having run a campaign urging people not to vote for him.

In an interview with the music website CLRVYNT, Fenriz (birth name Gylve Nagell) explained that he reluctantly accepted an offer from Norway's Liberal Party to stand in the local election, despite having absolutely no interest in winning office. "Basically, they called and asked if I wanted to be on the list" of backup representatives, he told CLRVYNT. "I said yeah, thinking I would be like 18th on the list and I wouldn't really have to do anything."

Perhaps concerned that apathy and total lack of experience wouldn't be sufficient to thwart his chances, Fenriz then ran an outreach campaign consisting entirely of posters with him and his cat accompanied by a plea that people not support him.

Unfortunately for this founding father of Norwegian black metal, the plan backfired spectacularly. The residents of Kolbotn were apparently so taken with his self-denying attitude that they promptly voted him into office, much to Fenriz's chagrin. "I'm not too pleased about it. It's boring," he said. "There's not a lot of money in that, either, I can tell you!"

One potential fear is that his party affiliation could alienate his core musical constituency of rabid Darkthrone fans. Norway's underground metal scene has had a sordid history of virulent anti-Christianity, with some fans going so far as to actually burn down churches. Fenriz's Liberal Party, in contrast, advocates the more moderate position of peacefully abolishing the Church of Norway as the country's official religion.

Still, Fenriz's apathetic attitude toward government arguably makes him a natural fit for the Liberals, who want a smaller, less burdensome state. The party's website calls for a number of libertarianish policies from reducing regulation to abolishing Norway's inheritance tax.

Whatever comes of Fenriz's time in office, the level of popular support for someone who's this unenthusiastic about the prospects of wielding is cause enough for celebration.

Post: #2

His band got into a bit of hot water a long time ago after releasing a new album and remarking in an interview that they thought that anyone who didn't like the album should be chided for the "Jewishness" of their behavior. If this was the US that story would have been dragged all over the media but maybe Norwegian politics isn't as much into personal mud slinging.

Post: #3

(09-14-2016 09:03 PM)Wutang Wrote:  His band got into a bit of hot water a long time ago after releasing a new album and remarking in an interview that they thought that anyone who didn't like the album should be chided for the "Jewishness" of their behavior. If this was the US that story would have been dragged all over the media but maybe Norwegian politics isn't as much into personal mud slinging.

From a wikipedia about one of their albums https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transilvanian_Hunger

"Originally, the back cover also bore the words "Norsk Arisk Black Metal" ("Norwegian Aryan black metal"). Due to negative feedback from many distributors, however, the phrase was removed. The band also intended to issue another controversial statement to mark the album's release: "We would like to state that Transilvanian Hunger stands beyond any criticism. If any man should attempt to criticize this LP, he should be thoroughly patronized for his obviously Jewish behavior."[3] In a press release, Peaceville Records issued both this statement and their own response, berating the sentiment but acknowledging that they could not censor their artists.[3]"

Post: #4

Well, when you tell people not to do something...

Post: #5

I forget where, but a dead man once won elections over his opponents. Must be a shitty feeling for the loosing candidates.

Post: #6

Reminds me of when Ted Cruz lost the NY primary to Ben Carson (who had dropped out months before).