Reykjavík Grapevine - 18.05.2018, Page 19

Guy Conan
Stewart
Nazanin
Askari
Sabine
Leskopf
Toshiki Toma
19The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 08 — 2018
1. What are you most hoping to accomplish,
should you get into Reykjavík City Council? (If
you are at the 24th seat or below, what are you
hoping your candidacy will do for your party?)
2. Why do you believe it's important for
immigrants to take part in municipal elections?
3. What is, in your opinion, the greatest challenge that
immigrants in Reykjavík face when it comes to settling
in the city and trying to make a life for themselves?
Meet The
Immigrant
Candidates
Reykjavík’s newest and
best in the running
Of those we contacted, a great many
responded. Others were either too
busy or didn’t feel they were important
enough for their answers to matter
(itself a very telling response). Below,
we list all those who did participate,
what party they’re running in and for
what seat, along with their answers.
Sabine Leskopf,
Social Democrats,
5th seat.
1. Two things, really: I want to speak
with an accent about so many differ-
ent things, not just immigrant issues,
until people stop noticing, until both
Icelanders and immigrants, and partic-
ularly their children, have accepted
that we are part of this society. That
because we come with different views
and attitudes, we are an asset, not a
liability. Secondly, I will fight like hell
against gender violence and for social
justice, like I have done ever since I
joined W.O.M.E.N. in Iceland in 2004.
2. Well, in Iceland one single vote
counts so much more than in most of
our home countries, that's an incen-
tive for one thing. But more than that,
municipal elections are what really
matters to us: the schools our children
go to, having access to affordable hous-
ing and public transport that really
works for us, even things like garbage
collection or waste disposal—some-
thing we might not think about as long
as everything is ok, but if it isn't, we all
know what a proper pain that is.
3. I think there is no one-size--fits-
all answer for that. When we have
newly arrived, it is hard for many just
to cope, make sure we enjoy basic
rights, get all necessary information,
an ok job and a decent place to live in.
But then, we want more, we want our
children to thrive at school, we want to
be listened to, we want to have access
to all Reykjavík has to offer for those
who were born and raised here without
having to give up who we are. That can
be tough.
René Biasone, Left-
Greens, 5th seat.
1. I hope I can bring a good contribu-
tion to the field of social inclusion and
vanquish the prejudice towards people
that are different from us. I believe
that Icelandic society will greatly
benefit from a system in which both
native Icelanders and immigrants have
the same opportunity to personally
develop and I will do my best to pursue
this goal. As a specialist in the protec-
tion of the natural environment (I
work at Umhverfisstofnun—the Envi-
ronment Agency of Iceland), I would, of
course, also make my knowledge avail-
able to the City Council, and contribute
to manage and improve the beautiful
natural areas that we can find in and
around the Capital.
2. In general, it is always impor-
tant for immigrants to find the sense
of belonging in a new community by
participating in social activities such
as singing in choirs, playing in team
sports or joining charity societies. I
believe it is important for the immi-
grants to see that Icelandic society is
including them in the political arena—
feeling respected not only because of
being a good and trustworthy work-
force but also as a recognition of the
cultural and intellectual contribution
to Icelandic society. And last but not
least, I feel that my fellow members in
the Left-Greens find it very important
to hear my opinion and ask me to share
my approach to issues in a variety of
fields, from social inclusion and educa-
tion to the health and environment.
For the Icelandic people, it is also an
example that reduces the suspicion or
mistrust.
3. Immigrants with children have
the challenge of settling down in one
neighborhood for a longer period
As we’ve emphasised (as a lot of
people don’t seem to know this), you
don’t need to be a citizen to vote in
municipal elections. By the same
token, you don’t need to be a citizen
to run, either. While being an immi-
grant does not necessarily mean
you’re not a citizen, immigrants in
Iceland of any legal status bring a
fresh perspective to politics that
locals simply don’t have.
In keeping with this, we contacted
every single foreign-born candidate
running for Reykjavík City Council
this year and asked them the same
three questions:
Words:
Paul Fontaine
Photos:
Hörður
Sveinsson