Masud Gharahkhani (; born 22 September 1982) is a Norwegian politician who has been serving as the President of the Storting since 2021, and as a Member of the Storting for Buskerud since 2017 for the Labour Party.
Early life and education
Born in Tehran, Iran, Masud Gharahkhani emigrated to Norway with his family in 1987 and grew up in Skotselv in Øvre Eiker. His family is originally from Piranshahr, Iranian Azerbaijan. His father is politician and trade unionist Bijan Gharakhani. After attending Rosthaug senior high school, he enrolled at Gjøvik University College studying radiography, graduating as a radiologic technologist, and has been employed by Blefjell Hospital. He has also been employed as secretary-general for the Buskerud Labour party.
Political career
Gharahkhani was first elected as a deputy representative to the parliament in the 2009 election. He received a standing ovation at the Labour Party national convention in 2011 for his speech about his journey from Tehran to Drammen. Hoping to be the first mayor in Norway with a non-Western immigrant background, Gharahkani was the Labour party candidate for the mayor of Drammen in the 2011 local election. He eventually lost to popular incumbent Tore Opdal Hansen from the Conservative Party. His campaign was marred by speculation in the press about his marriage to a woman in Iran. Gharahkani however blamed his opponents for attempting to smear him.
Prime minister Jens Stoltenberg has called Gharahkhani "an extraordinary political talent" and "a success story in Norwegian society."
President of the Storting
On 24 November 2021, the Labour Party nominated Gharahkhani to succeed Eva Kristin Hansen following her resignation after a parliamentary housing scandal. He was formally elected the day after in a written vote. He is the first person from an immigrant background to serve as Storting president, and second from an ethnic minority after Jo Benkow.
2021
On 7 December, he ordered an investigation into all MPs welfare benefits. He also demanded quicker results, and expanded the commission's mandate and to have them deliver their findings by next summer. He called it "a right and fair signal to give", and received support from the parliamentary leaders in the Storting.
On 10 December, Gharahkhani proposed a wage freeze to last for one more year for Storting representatives. He expressed that it was right to do so until further. He stated: "I informed the presidency on Thursday about the party's position. Pending the committee that will look at executive salaries in the state in general and the Storting's committee that will review the representatives' schemes, we believe it is right to freeze the current remuneration until further notice".
On 15 December, Gharahkhani presented new rules for how members of the Storting should utilise commuter housing. He said that the rules should now be "crystal clear and not to misunderstand". He further explained: "This means that if you own or rent a home that you utilise daily, within 40 kilometers of Oslo, then you are not entitled to commuter housing".
2022
On 4 January 2022, Gharahkhani went into quarantine after his son had tested positive for COVID-19 and began remote working. He also encouraged people to take a COVID-19 vaccine.
On 20 January, Gharahkhani received Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, showing her around the Storting and meeting with Vice President Svein Harberg, and Maren Grøthe, the youngest Storting representative.
Gharahkhani's proposal from December 2021 about a possible wage freeze for Storting representatives was rejected by a majority of the Storting presidency, consisting of the Centre, Conservative and Progress parties. The parties reasoned it was better for the investigative commission to reach their findings before further action should be taken.
Gharahkhani expressed his support for the Arne campaign, which was inspired by the TV series Lykkeland, to promote gender equality and to call attention to gender inequality in top positions in working life. In an email to NTB, he said: "Even though we have come a long way in Norway, we know that name and gender still affect the opportunities you get in working life. A former radiographer and employee in the health service knows this. That is why I am happy to participate in and support the Arne campaign. We all have a responsibility to influence within the opportunities and choices we make in our daily lives, and not least what we show through our words and actions". He also said that he had invited the people behind the campaign to an 8 March breakfast and to discuss hate and discrimination against women.