OSLO – Norway’s rightwing Fisheries Minister Per Sandberg quit on Mondayafter breaching security protocol when he went on holiday to Iran with anIranian-born former beauty queen, in a major media scandal.
The deputy head of the anti-immigration Progress Party – which is part ofthe ruling coalition – admitted he had travelled to Iran in July with hisnew girlfriend Bahareh Letnes, 28, without informing the prime minister’soffice in advance.
The 58-year-old also admitted bringing his work phone with him. Norway’sintelligence agency regularly lists Iran as one of the countries mostlikely to carry out espionage, alongside China and Russia.
“Per himself asked to step down, and I think it was the right decision,”Conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg told reporters.
“He didn’t show the necessary common sense when it comes to handlingsecurity issues,” she said.
The story has been making headlines in Norway, fuelling criticism frommembers of the opposition and Sandberg’s own party, which is in a coalitionwith the Conservatives and the Liberals.
Letnes had her asylum request rejected three times in Norway and wasexpelled, but finally obtained a residency permit on the grounds that sherisked being subjected to a forced marriage in Iran.
The Progress Party favours a strict immigration policy, calling forrejected asylum seekers to be expelled swiftly. It is also highly criticalof foreigners who return to their native country after receiving asylum inNorway.
Sandberg issued an apology in a bid to quell the criticism, but with newdetails emerging daily he ultimately decided to resign.
Among other things, it emerged he had also broken security protocol in Maywhen he took his work phone to China.
“It’s sad,” he told reporters on Monday. “I had hoped to finish up a fewprojects,” he added, refusing to comment on the personal aspects of theaffair.
Norwegian intelligence services have opened a probe into Letnes, who deniesany ties to the Iranian regime.
Sandberg will be replaced by Harald Tom Nesvik, a member of his own party,and has also stepped down as deputy head of the party. – APP/AFP