Norway's Conservative Party selection committee gathered secretly in Oslo on Saturday to interview potential leaders. The party seeks a successor to Erna Solberg after her election defeat.
Three prominent politicians emerged as frontrunners. Ine Eriksen Søreide, Henrik Asheim, and Peter Frølich all attended interviews for the top position.
Local party chapters across Norway submitted their recommendations. Two regional leaders claimed Søreide remains undecided about her candidacy.
Hanne Alstrup Velure, leader of Innlandet Conservative Party, explained the hesitation. She said Søreide wants to know what team she would lead before committing. Velure praised Søreide's political instincts and strategic abilities.
Innlandet Conservatives clearly endorsed Søreide as their preferred candidate. Other regions kept their recommendations private while expressing support.
Harald Furre, Agder county leader, noted Søreide hasn't declined the opportunity. He described her as a thorough politician who wants confirmation of party support before accepting.
Several potential candidates expressed openness to other senior roles beyond the leadership position. Henrik Asheim confirmed his interest in becoming party leader.
Peter Frølich told media he wants to assess the party's overall situation before deciding. Ola Svenneby, another mentioned candidate, ruled out leadership ambitions for now.
Regional leaders emphasized the changing nature of party leadership. Velure noted modern political leadership requires handling intense media scrutiny and multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
Both Furre and Velure stressed the importance of team building for the next leader. They agreed the party needs someone with strong ideological awareness and team-building skills.
Furre dismissed suggestions that Solberg's leadership lacked team focus. He praised her efforts in traveling nationwide to build party unity.
Rogaland county leader Harald Lønning previously mentioned Nikolai Astrup as a potential dark horse candidate. He described Frølich, Søreide, and Asheim as strong contenders in earlier statements.
After Saturday's meetings, Søreide released a statement addressing the speculation. She confirmed no final decision about her candidacy for what she called a big and important job.
Søreide expressed love for the party and its members. She suggested thorough consideration by all potential candidates benefits the Conservatives.
The party will build a strong team regardless of who becomes leader, she concluded. Norway's Conservative Party faces the significant challenge of rebuilding after their election loss.
Political observers note the leadership transition marks a generational shift for Norway's center-right. The new leader must unite the party while developing a vision to challenge the current government.