Sebastian Saltrø Ytrevik was digging drainage ditches at a family-run farm in Stavern when a misconduct scandal upended Norway’s politics, pushing the 23-year-old former Storting deputy from muddy work boots straight to the leadership of Framstegspartiets Ungdom.
From Drainage Ditches to Party Leadership
The unexpected call came while Ytrevik was tending to Gumserød Fritidsgård, a farm run by his partner’s family. Having run for the leadership of Norway’s largest youth party earlier in the spring and lost, he had already figured his days in youth politics were behind him. He planned to return to work as an electrician.
Then came the disclosure of unwanted sexual attention involving the winner of the spring election. The predecessor stepped down, leaving the leadership post vacant.
“It was a bit difficult to say yes,” Ytrevik told nrk.no, dressed in a Ralph Lauren fleece and muddy shoes while goats interrupted the interview in search of food. “I’m a practitioner, so it can be a bit boring to sit in an office all day or fly from meeting to meeting in Oslo, but at the same time I also think politics needs some practitioners.”
An Accidental Politician’s Roots
Before taking the national youth leadership, Ytrevik also assumed the role of group leader for the party in the municipal council after another local representative stepped down. He notes that he has never actively chased positions, preferring to step into them when a practical need arises.
His political awakening began around the fourth or fifth grade while watching Dagsrevyen on television. By middle school, he gravitated toward Fremskrittspartiet, engaging in frequent kitchen-table debates with his father, a trade union shop steward. Ytrevik credits social media during his formative years with broadening his perspective, though he admits part of the appeal was simply disagreeing with his father.
Running a Small-Scale Poultry Enterprise on the Family Farm
Outside of politics, much of his time is spent running Ytrevik Egg og Fjærfe, a small-scale poultry enterprise established in 2023 at the family farm. Alongside ducks, horses, sheep, alpacas, and a peacock named Påfinn, he collects eggs that yield little financial profit, viewing the venture more as valuable hands-on experience.
That pragmatic view extends to his economic philosophy. Ytrevik describes taxation as a necessary evil required to fund core public services like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and the police.
In December, Ytrevik will temporarily relocate to his brother’s apartment in Oslo to manage the FpU office situated just across the street from the Storting. He acknowledges he is not naturally drawn to big-city life, preferring the quiet of the coast and his daily farm chores.
Traveling to Local Chapters to Maintain a Safe Environment
Addressing the cultural issues that led to the leadership vacancy, Ytrevik promises a hands-on approach. He intends to travel extensively, visiting local chapters and remaining accessible to the membership to ensure the organization maintains a safe environment.
Ideologically, the self-described “superliberalist” keeps his focus squarely on individual freedom. He credits Fremskrittspartiet with helping keep the growth of the far-right in check within Norway, arguing that mainstream political parties across Europe often fail to address the underlying grievances that push voters toward political extremes.
Ytrevik also critiques what he views as excessive caution among established Norwegian politicians, arguing that the Labour Party and others are often too afraid of making mistakes to try new solutions. He plans to bring his electrician’s mindset to the job: try a fix, and if it fails, be willing to tear it out and try something else.
