The Republic of Hålogaland will be the new country’s name, if a newly established group on Facebook is to be heard. The initiative has gotten a lot of publicity in national Norwegian media. The founder of the group, Håkon Andre Winther says he is tired of constantly being ignored by politicians and authorities in the south.
– Northern Norway has the resources, the knowledge and the technology to make it as a state of our own. It would be interesting to see how southern Norway would make it without the north, says Winther to Dagbladet.no.
The new republic would focus on establishing good relations with Russia, both in culture and business. Among other things the new country’s petroleum development would be in the form of a close regional relationship with Russian Gazprom. The new republic would also be one of NATO’s most important allies, with up to five strategically placed NATO-bases established.
Mr Winther emphasises that this is not a joke and that there are limits to how long northern Norway will stand being ignored by authorities in the south. However, he admits that there are many obstacles in the way before his dream becomes vision.
