Kirsti Bergstø (born 1 July 1981) is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. She has served as one of the party's deputy leaders since 2017. Personal life Bergstø was born in Rana in Nordland. She is the daughter of Harald and Erna Bergstø, an engineer and a consultant respectfully. She currently has a partner, and a son. Political career Youth wing She is the former leader of the Socialist Youth, the youth wing of the Socialist Left Party, and held this position between 2006 and 2008. Parliament She served as a deputy representative to the Storting from Finnmark from 2005 to 2009. She was a deputy member of Finnmark county council from 1999 to 2003. From 2010 to 2012 she was a State Secretary in the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion. She was a member of the Storting from Finnmark from 2013 to 2017, and again, from Akershus since 2021. In addition, she became the chair of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Affairs. Party deputy leader She was elected the party's deputy leader on 18 March 2017. From April to September 2022, she was acting party leader while Audun Lysbakken was on parental leave. Following Lysbakken's announced departure as leader, Bergstø was floated as a possible contender to succeed him, alongside Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes and Kari Elisabeth Kaski. Bergstø officially declared her candidacy on 9 December. The party election committee unanimously designated her as party leader on 1 February 2023. References 1981 births Living people People from Nesseby Finnmark politicians Socialist Left Party (Norway) politicians Deputy members of the Storting Norwegian state secretaries Women members of the Storting 21st-century Norwegian politicians 21st-century Norwegian women politicians Norwegian women state secretaries