New children’s ombudsman finally named – Norway

And he’s not so new after all. After months of conflict and power struggles, current ombudsman Reidar Hjermann has been allowed to keep his job.

Reidar Hjermann will continue as Norway’s ombudsman for children after all. PHOTO: PER ANNAR HOLM Efforts to replace Hjermann were reportedly tied to Haktor Helland, top bureaucrat in the government ministry to which the children’s ombudsman is attached, who has had a lengthy conflict with Hjermann. PHOTO: MORTEN UGLUM

The Children’s Ombudsman

The ombudsman’s post is important in Norway, not least since Norway was the first country in the world to appoint someone to be an advocate for children. The ombudsman is, among other things, responsible for looking out for the interests of children, listening to their own needs and wishes, and forwarding them to government officials. Some observers have worried that the last several months of conflict over the ombudsman’s position threatened to undermine its role and future.

The quarreling over the ombudsman’s position, both at the highest levels of government and within the bureaucracy, has been a hot topic of public debate since last fall. That’s when it became clear that Hjermann might not get his contract renewed after his first four-year term ran out.

It was the first time ever that the incumbent, who clearly wanted to continue, was getting the cold shoulder from those in charge of filling the position. It was never clear why the call went out for new candidates for Hjermann’s job.

Not until Friday morning, when newspaper Aftenposten reported on a long-simmering conflict between Hjermann and the powerful bureaucrat in charge of the government ministry to which the ombudsman is attached — Barne- og likestillingsdepartementet.

Hjermann, Aftenposten reported, ran into trouble with top bureaucrat Haktor Helland almost from the first day he took over as ombudsman in 2004. Helland, well-connected within Norway’s Labour Party, reportedly felt threatened by Hjermann and the two also are said to have entirely different personalities.

The alleged conflict between them was sparked by previous ombudsman Trond Waage’s desire to keep ministry computer equipment worth thousands of kroner. Hjermann demanded Waage return the equipment to the ministry, or pay used prices for it. Helland, who’d had a good relationship with Waage, supported the former ombudsman.

Hjermann wouldn’t relent, apparently even threatening to report the matter to police. Waage finally returned the equipment, and now says he didn’t view the issue as a serious conflict.

It reportedly got Hjermann and Helland off on the wrong foot, though, and their relationship allegedly deteriorated over the next few years. Several sources interviewed by Aftenposten said there even were efforts to broker peace between the two, and Norway’s Justice Minister was ultimately informed of the conflict. Helland denied there was a conflict, and claimed his relationship with Hjermann was “good … as it should be.”

Meanwhile, “strong forces” within the bureaucracy reportedly tried to replace Hjermann, but the process was troubled from the start. It even led indirectly to the resignation of an earlier cabinet minister over conflict-of-interest issues, and an earlier employment round was cancelled.

Aftenposten reported that at least two government ministers who were supposed to be in charge of naming the ombudsman let themselves be unduly influenced by a bureaucracy that didn’t want Hjermann to continue in the post.

More conflict broke out last week, when a last-minute candidate for the job emerged, weeks after the application deadline. Other candidates immediately complained and questions were raised, not least since the new candidate came from a local research group tied to the Labour Party, leading to more conflict-of-interest challenges.

Hjermann prevailed in the end, winning over the bureaucracy. Some remark that it’s surprising he still wanted the job after all he’s been through, but he did. The potential for more conflict looms, with both Helland, age 68, and Hjermann, age 39, continuing in their jobs.

Storberget, in announcing Hjermann’s reappointment, said Norway has now retained a children’s ombudsman “who will be independent, both formally and in real terms, and first and foremost forward children’s interests.” Hjermann, educated as a psychologist, wasn’t immediately available for comment.’

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