Kari-Anne Opsal

Kari-Anne Opsal (born 10 May 1967) is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. She was State Secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs from 2006 to 2007, and mayor of Harstad from 2019 to 2025. She was elected party secretary of the Labour Party in 2025.

Personal life and education Born on 10 May 1967 She was elected to a full term in autumn of 2019 and re-elected in 2023. She resigned in April 2025 in order to become party secretary of the nationwide Labour Party and was succeeded by Elise Marie Stenhaug.

Opsal was a member of the Troms county cabinet between 2009 and 2013, holding the positions of county commissioner for transport from 2009 to 2011 and then planning and industry from 2011 to 2013. She resigned in March 2013 to take a job in her native Harstad and was succeeded by Willy Ørnebakk. She caused some controversy during her tenure, when she berated a voter who complained about poor road maintenance in April 2011. Opsal later apologised for the incident and explained that she had felt provoked and had overreacted.

Government She was advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs from 2005 to 2006, and state secretary from 2006 to 2007. having been recommended by the election committee led by Peggy Hessen Følsvik.