Gina Knutson Barstad is a Norwegian politician from Hordaland

Hordaland

is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...

, residing in Bergen

Bergen

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....

, who represents the Socialist Left Party

Socialist Left Party (Norway)

The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...

 (SV).

In the 2009 parliamentary election

Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009

The 2009 parliamentary election was held in Norway on 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities held open...

, Barstad was nominated as the Socialist Left's second candidate, behind Audun Lysbakken

Audun Lysbakken

Audun Bjørlo Lysbakken is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. In 2006 he became deputy leader of the party. On 20 October 2009, he was appointed Minister of Children and Equality.- Background :...

. Since the Socialist Left only received one representative in Hordaland, she was not elected. However, Lysbakken was picked as new Minister of Children and Equality

Minister of Children and Equality (Norway)

The Norwegian Minister of Children and Equality is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Children and Equality. Before 2006 the title was Minister of Children and Family Affairs and before 1990 Minister of Children and Consumer Affairs....

 in the Stoltenberg Cabinet, and she therefore meets in parliament in his place. She is one of the youngest representatives in parliament.

Prior to her entry into parliament, Barstad was a reserve representative in the Bergen city council and in charge of the Socialist Left's economy. Barstad's main issue is equal pay, but she has also campaigned on environmental issues and for construction of high speed rail in Norway. Apart from politics, Barstad is a student of French.

Her sister, Monika Ryste Barstad is also active in politics, though she represents the Progress Party

Progress Party (Norway)

The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...

 in Ørsta

Ørsta

is a village and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region of Western Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ørsta...

. Despite the political differences, they remain friends.