– It was a relief when we negotiated the agreement, which sort of marked the end of the employment, says Fredrik Österling, who at the end of January resigned as head of office at the Sámi Parliament after barely a year and a half.
For a year, we have had to follow the conflict between the board of the Sami Parliament and Fredrik Österling, which resulted in, among other things, police reports, sick leave and a trial after the matter ended up with the State’s Accountability Committee. Fredrik Österling does not regret that he acted as he did, it was his responsibility.
– I thought it was absolutely right, with the knowledge I had then and still have. You have a responsibility towards the business, and that responsibility actually goes a little higher than the board.
One of the criticisms leveled at you was that you worked side jobs. What is your view on the matter?
– During my vacation, just like many others at the Sami Parliament, I did a side job, I wrote an opera, he says and continues.
– I had declared the side jobs into the system that the Sámi Parliament has, the board subsequently chose to come and say that it was not done correctly. The board has since tried to prove that it has affected my work at the Sami Parliament without success.
Fredrik Österling says that he sees the future brightly and that he will continue to live in Kiruna.
What are you going to do next?
– Now I am in the process of starting up a small business that will work with business development and management consulting.