City Council Creates Private Rooms in Town Hall

Bergen city council members decided to build private rooms for themselves inside the historic town hall. This information comes from emails officials kept secret for over a year. The revelation has sparked strong reactions from political opponents. Council members from the Socialist Left and Green parties called the situation extremely embarrassing. They questioned why elected officials needed private spaces in public buildings. The controversy centers on whether public funds were properly used for these renovations. Norwegian municipalities typically operate with transparent spending on public facilities. The private rooms appear to contradict this principle of open government. Bergen's town hall serves as both an administrative center and cultural landmark. Many citizens visit the building for official business and public events. Creating exclusive spaces for politicians raises questions about accessibility. The email correspondence reveals council members specifically requested these private areas. Officials delayed releasing these documents despite public records laws. This incident comes amid ongoing debates about government transparency in Norway. Local politicians face increasing scrutiny over their use of public resources. The controversy may affect public trust in municipal governance. Bergen residents now await further explanations about the decision-making process.