Emilie Mehl Explained

Emilie Mehl
Office:Minister of Justice and Public Security
Term Start:14 October 2021
Primeminister:Jonas Gahr Støre
Predecessor:Monica Mæland
Office2:Member of the Storting
Term Start2:9 October 2017
Deputy2:Margrethe Haarr
Constituency2:Hedmark
Birth Name:Emilie Enger Mehl
Birth Date:8 August 1993
Birth Place:Lørenskog, Akershus, Norway
Party:Centre
Nationality:Norwegian
Education:Jurisprudence
Alma Mater:University of Oslo
Occupation:Politician

Emilie Enger Mehl (born 8 August 1993) is a Norwegian politician for the Centre Party. She has served as minister of justice since 2021 and member of parliament for Hedmark since 2017.

Personal life and education

Mehl was born in Lørenskog on 8 August 1993, a daughter of Eivind Mehl and Ellen Enger Müller. She holds a Master of laws (LL.M.) from the University of Oslo Faculty of Law.[1]

Career

Parliament

Mehl was elected representative to the Storting for the period 2017 - 2021 for the Centre Party.[2] She was member of the Standing Committee on Justice from 2017 to 2020,[3] and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) from 2017 to 2021.[4] From 2020 to 2021 she was member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence and of the Enlarged Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. She was re-elected to the Storting for the period 2021–2025, and was replaced by deputy Margrethe Haarr while being part of the Støre's Cabinet from October 2021.

Local politics

She was elected representative to the county council of Hedmark from 2015.[5]

Minister of Justice

She was appointed minister of justice on 14 October 2021.[6] At the time of her appointment, she became the country's youngest person to serve as minister of justice.[7]

2021

Mehl laid down flowers, for the victims of the Kongsberg attack. The attack happened the day before she was appointed, and she was accompanied by the prime minister.[8]

In October 2021, she spoke about the issue of alleged abuse of power by police, during handling of drug cases.[9]

In early November, she focused on the recent shootings in the capital: eight young men had been shot (by other civilians) over the span of ten weeks.[10] [11] [12]

She rejected the Norwegian Correctional Service's proposal of reducing the amount of prisons from 32 to 13.[13] [14]

2022

In May 2022, she appeared in front of the Standing Committee on Justice to answer about the controversy regarding Hans Sverre Sjøvold, chief of Police Security Service.[15] He resigned the following month.[16]

There was a shortage of blank passports in May [and for some time later], and that became a bottleneck for the authorities' issuing of passports.[17] [18] (Mehl had already warned in March 2022, of an upcoming period where many applicants for new passports—would have to wait for unreasonably long periods of time; Thales Group were responsible for the production of the passports).[19]

The government made a proposal to change the court system.[20] [21] Possible changes to the court system were being evaluated (as of May 2022).[22] [23] Regarding the proposed changes, she said that she wished to listen to [opinions or] voices from the districts, rather than the strong[24] opposition from legal experts - because the experts are mostly based in the capital city.[25]

In August 2022, Mehl recognized that Russian vessels posed a potential risk to Norwegian interests.[26]

Later in August, it was revealed that Mehl had declined the treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Norway despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs having approved the request. Only weeks later did she give the same response as said ministry did. At the same time, Mehl didn't disclose these details when questioned about it in the Storting. The Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs notified that they would be setting up a hearing for the case, and would be calling Mehl, prime minister Støre and foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt in for questioning.[27] [28]

On 17 October, she warned people to be on high alert and report suspicious drone activity.[29]

Later in October, Mehl ordered a fact-finding on all institutions that have handled the investigations and judicial proceedings of the Baneheia murders.[30] [31]

In October, Mehl also presented Beate Gangås as the new chief of the Norwegian Police Security Service.[32]

From 31 October, she had six days to answer to parliament; some MPs have said that a recent purchase of Chinese drones from DJI, should have been stopped.[33] Previously, in January 2022, the Conservative Party expressed concerns for national security regarding the police's process for acquiring Chinese drones from DJI. In response, Mehl called for a meeting with director of police Benedicte Bjørnland later that month.[34]

On 2 November 2022, Mehl was forced to withdraw an inquiry that the ministry of justice had ordered from the Police Directorate; the withdrawal happened 3 hours after media told about the inquiry. The Office of the Prime Ministercontacted the leadership of the Centre Party, to express concern.[35] The inquiry had desired to decentralize the national police force; furthermore, one goal was to create 20 new police stations - each with 5 police officers - in the districts;[36] the inquiry was supposed to "map out the possibility for making large cuts, regarding police in the big cities".[37] On 9 November, media said that 3 of the 4 points of the inquiry, have not yet been stopped (by Mehl).[38]

In December 2022, the opposition parties, together with the government parties, demanded that a position be created for an ombud for whistleblowing regarding police matters or perhaps even regarding matters of the justice sector. Mehl had already said in May that she would create that position, but she later shelved the idea. In May 2022, the police union in Norway had rejected the one proposed version of the idea.[39]

On 15 December, Mehl issued an apology on behalf of the government in relation to the wrongful conviction of Viggo Kristiansen in the Baneheia murders.[40]

2023

In early February 2023, Mehl admitted that she had TikTok on her work phone. Despite this, she stated that she still utilised the app. The Conservative Party had previously expressed dwindling confidence in her, which the Progress Party also later supported.[41] [42] [43]

Throughout June, Mehl faced severe criticism for the intelligence handling and the findings by the investigation of the 2022 Oslo shootings.[44]

In August, Mehl visited affected municipalities by Storm Hans in Innlandet and praised the local populations and emergency services.[45]

In late August, Mehl and finance minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum announced the reestablishment/establishment of ten new police stations by 2024.[46]

In September, Mehl announced that more funding would be allocated to the police in order to combat gang violence as a response of an increase of it in neighbouring Sweden.[47]

In December, it was revealed that the National Security Authority had taken on an illegal loan agreement worth 200 million kroner. The director, Sofie Nystrøm, announced her resignation on 8 December with immediate effect. Mehl announced in the aftermath that an investigation would be conducted and that the justice ministry would look at its routines. Additionally a grant to the NSA of an equal sum to the illegal loan would be given in order to repay it.[48]

2024

In a joint press conference with labour minister Tonje Brenna on 29 January, the two announced additional measures for handling Ukrainian refugees. For her part, Mehl stated that the government would be aiming to secure the flow of refugees coming into the country and furthermore tighten up services and performance rate. Additionally she emphasised that the pressure on municipalities shouldn't become too dire that it would impact the country's ability to support Ukraine.[49]

With reports of staff shortages and general underfunding of the police, Mehl announced that the government would spend 635 million NOK on strengthening the police as pet of the revised national budget. Both the Conservative and Progress parties had warned that if not sufficient funding could be provided, the latter asked that she should consider her position.[50]

Mehl responded to criticism from the opposition in April in the wake of revelations that some cabins in Bardufoss were owned by Russians linked to the regime. Mehl denied that the government had moved slowly on the matter, and stated that they would be considering similar measures like Finland when it comes to owning properties.[51]

Media uncovered a document on 27 April 2024 that gives an indication that Mehl has misinformed parliament for more than a year (and as late as March); The document from 2017, establishes that "double authorization" was against Norwegian laws; media showed that the authorities referred to the document in 2019, to show that double authorization was still against the law; Verdens Gang has asked Mehl if she has been misled by PST.[52] Earlier (4 November 2022), the leader of the Standing Committee on Justice said that it is incomprehensible that Mehl is not intervening and giving orders to the justice ministry and underlying agencies, regarding answers to questions about the case involving employment termination of a whistleblower at the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST). After having whistleblowed - in regard to Benedicte Bjørnland, Roger Berg and Kaare Songstad - the whistleblower was told that he would need two authorities to give him authorization - for access to classified information: a (relevant) police chief and also the chief of PST.[53] In a 2 November reply to Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik of the Standing Committee on Justice, Mehl claimed that such "double authorization" is required by law; however, on 4 November media revealed that 3 documents from the justice ministry[54] from 2017, 2019 and 2020 say otherwise.[55] Carl I. Hagen, a member of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs sent questions to Mehl, asking her how many PST servicemen already have been subjected to "double authorization".[55] As of 5 November 2022, Thorsvik has sent additional questions to Mehl.[53]

Other

Mehl is previously known as the winner of the first season (2015) of the Norwegian reality show .[56]

She also participated in the third season of , but did not accept payment for her participation, but instead wished for her remuneration to be donated to charity organisations.[57] She went on to win the season.[58]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Østlendingen - Emilie Enger Mehl er fersk jurist og klar for justiskomiteen. www.ostlendingen.no. 4 October 2017 . no. 2017-11-27.
  2. Web site: Valgresultat 2017. Hedmark . . no . 13 September 2017 .
  3. News: Mehl, Emilie Enger. 2017-10-23. Stortinget. 2017-11-27. en-GB.
  4. Web site: Europarådets parlamentarikerforsamling (PACE). 2008-04-23. Stortinget. nb-NO. 2017-11-27.
  5. Web site: Emilie Enger Mehl. www.hedmark.org. no. 13 September 2017. 14 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170914081632/https://www.hedmark.org/Politikk/Fylkestinget/Senterpartiet/Emilie-Enger-Mehl. dead.
  6. Web site: Norge har fått ny regjering . . 14 October 2021 . 14 October 2021 . no.
  7. News: Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) blir tidenes yngste justisminister . nrk.no . 14 October 2021 . no . 21 October 2021.
  8. Web site: Støre og Mehl la ned blomster i Kongsberg . Nettavisen . 15 October 2021 . 15 October 2021 . Norwegian.
  9. Web site: - Redd for å gjøre jobben . Dagbladet . 28 October 2021 . 28 October 2021 . Norwegian.
  10. Web site: Justisministeren besøker Stovner politistasjon for å diskutere skytinger . ABC Nyheter . 1 November 2021 . 2 November 2021 . Norwegian.
  11. Web site: Justisministeren etter Oslo-skytingene: – Oslo er en trygg by . ABC Nyheter . 2 November 2021 . 2 November 2021 . Norwegian.
  12. Web site: Justisministeren etter skyteepisoder i Oslo: - Bekymringsfullt . Nettavisen . 26 October 2021 . 26 October 2021 . Norwegian.
  13. Web site: Justisministeren med klar beskjed: – Norske fengsler skal ikke sentraliseres . NRK Troms og Finnmark . 17 November 2021 . 17 November 2021 . Norwegian.
  14. Web site: Mehl legger domstolsreverseringen ut på høring . ABC Nyheter . 26 January 2022 . 26 January 2022 . Norwegian.
  15. Web site: Vil ikke svare på om PST-sjefen er forskjellsbehandlet . . 25 May 2022 . 29 May 2022 . no.
  16. Web site: 2022-06-02 . Kommentar: Det gikk ikke lenger . 2024-01-11 . www.vg.no . nb.
  17. Web site: Slik vil Mehl løse passkrisen: − Usikkert om det lar seg gjøre . . 28 May 2022 . 28 May 2022 . no.
  18. Web site: Mehl ber EU-landene akseptere at nordmenn reiser med utgåtte pass . ABC Nyheter . 10 June 2022 . 10 June 2022 . no.
  19. Web site: Justisminister hasteinnkaller produsenten av norske pass . . 29 March 2022 . 30 March 2022 . Norwegian.
  20. Web site: Barneombudet advarer regjeringen mot å endre domstolene . . 4 November 2021 . 4 November 2021 . Norwegian.
  21. Web site: Varsler rask reversering av domstolsreformen . . 5 December 2021 . 5 December 2021 . Norwegian.
  22. Web site: Dødt løp mellom norske kommuner om å oppheve domstolsreformen . ABC Nyheter . 2 May 2022 . 2 May 2022 . Norwegian.
  23. Web site: Mehl vil ikke høre på "Oslo-eksperter" – men heller lytte til "vanlige" folk . . 4 April 2022 . 6 April 2022 . Norwegian.
  24. Web site: 2022-11-05 . Du er vel justisminister for Oslo, Mehl? . 2024-01-11 . Dagsavisen . no.
  25. Web site: Mehl vil ikke høre på «Oslo-eksperter» – men heller lytte til «vanlige» folk. Lægland. Martin. VG. no. – Høyre skaper en så fordummende debatt i denne saken, og snakker bare om fagfolk. Det er et sterkt behov i Norge for å lytte mer til vanlige folk, og mindre til ekspertene, sier Emilie Enger Mehl.. 4 April 2022. 22 May 2022.
  26. Web site: Vurderer russiske trusselbåter . . 12 August 2022 . 14 August 2022 . no.
  27. Web site: Full gjennomgang etter avsløring . . 27 August 2022 . 28 August 2022 . no.
  28. Web site: Stanset behandling av skadde soldater . . 25 August 2022 . 28 August 2022 . no.
  29. Web site: Mehl oppfordrer folk til å være årvåkne om mistenkelig aktivitet . ABC Nyheter . 17 October 2022 . 18 October 2022 . no.
  30. Web site: The justice minister: Full fact-finding of all links of the Baneheia case . VG.no . 28 October 2022.
  31. Web site: Justisministeren: Setter ned utvalg for å granske Baneheia-saken . . 21 October 2022 . 22 October 2022 . no.
  32. Web site: Beate Gangås by sjef i PST . . 21 October 2022 . 22 October 2022 . no.
  33. Web site: Rønning . Mats . 2022-10-31 . Krever nye svar om kinesiske droner . 2024-03-06 . NRK . nb-NO.
  34. Web site: Ber politiet droppe kinesiske droner . . 6 January 2022 . 7 January 2022 . Norwegian.
  35. Web site: Røsvik . Eirik . Holmes . Martha C. S. . Lægland . Martin . Haugan . Bjørn . 2022-11-03 . Opplysninger til VG: Slik gjorde regjeringen full retrett . 2024-03-06 . VG . no.
  36. Web site: Haugan . Bjørn . Holmes . Martha C. S. . 2022-11-02 . Ap presset på - Mehl trakk forslag . 2024-03-06 . VG . no.
  37. Web site: 2022-11-02 . Opposisjonspolitikere ber Støre redegjøre etter at Mehl trakk initiativ om politikutt . 2024-03-06 . www.aftenposten.no . nb.
  38. Web site: Røsvik . Eirik . 2022-11-09 . Mehl vil ikke vrake distrikts-mål: Politifolk frykter nye kutt . 2024-03-06 . VG . no.
  39. Web site: Presset øker mot Mehl etter varslingsfiasko . . 7 December 2022 . 8 December 2022 . no.
  40. Web site: Emilie Enger Mehl om Viggo Kristiansen: − Jeg vil si unnskyld . . 15 December 2022 . 15 December 2022 . no.
  41. Web site: Justisminister Emilie Enger Mehl hadde Tiktok på tjenestetelefonen . . 1 February 2023 . 1 February 2023 . no.
  42. Web site: - Vår tillit er svekket . . 26 January 2023 . 1 February 2023 . no.
  43. Web site: Slik svarer Mehl på TikTok-kritikken . . 16 October 2022 . 25 March 2023 . no.
  44. Web site: Mehl er svekket . . 14 June 2023 . 14 June 2023 . no.
  45. Web site: Mehl roser lokalbefolkningen i flomområdene: – En utrolig innsats . ABC Nyheter . 13 August 2023 . 13 August 2023 . no.
  46. Web site: Regjeringen oppretter ti nye politikontor: Polititopper reagerer kraftig . . 23 August 2023 . 24 August 2023 . no.
  47. Web site: Gir penger for å hindre svensk voldsbølge i å krysse grensa . . 26 September 2023 . 26 September 2023 . no.
  48. Web site: NSM-direktør Sofie Nystrøm går på dagen: − Jeg beklager . . 8 December 2023 . 8 December 2023 . no.
  49. Web site: Regjeringen varsler flere innstramminger for flyktninger fra Ukraina . . 29 January 2024 . 29 January 2024 . no.
  50. Web site: Frp om politi-krisen: Ber justisminister Emilie Enger Mehl vurdere sin stilling . ABC Nyheter . 16 February 2024 . 16 February 2024 . no.
  51. Web site: Vurderer å gjøre som naboen . . 13 April 2024 . 13 April 2024 . no.
  52. https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/B0J3P9/mehl-nektet-vg-innsyn-i-oppdragsbrev-paa-grunn-av-rikets-sikkerhet. VG.no. Retrieved 2024-04-28
  53. Web site: Berg . Ronny . Haram . Ola . Norman . Mona Grivi . Kristiansen (foto) . Tore . 2022-11-05 . Justisministeren ber om full redegjørelse . 2024-03-06 . VG . no.
  54. https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/0QVJnE/justiskomiteen-om-pst-varsler-uforstaaelig-at-mehl-ikke-griper-inn. Retrieved 5 November 2022. "I dag kan VG avdekke at tre dokumenter fra hennes eget departement forteller det stikk motsatte: ... 2017: ... 2019: ... 2020"
  55. Web site: Berg . Ronny . Haram . Ola . Norman . Mona Grivi . Kristiansen (foto) . Tore . 2022-11-04 . Justiskomiteen om PST-varsler: – Uforståelig at Mehl ikke griper inn . 2024-03-06 . VG . no.
  56. Web site: Anno-vinner: – Har blitt ekstremt god på pokerfjes . Elise Hellem . Ratvik . . no . 6 March 2015 . 13 September 2017 .
  57. Web site: Justisminister Emilie Enger Mehl gir bort "Kompani Lauritzen"-honorar . ABC Nyheter . 20 October 2021 . 20 October 2021 . Norwegian.
  58. Web site: Justisminister Emilie Enger Mehl vant "Kompani Lauritzen": − Hadde brukt det meste av kruttet . . 30 April 2022 . 2 May 2022 . Norwegian.