Kirsti Bergstø (born 1 July 1981) is a Norwegian politician serving as the leader of the Socialist Left Party since March 2023. She previously served as one of the party's deputy leaders from 2017 to 2023.

Personal life

Bergstø was born in Rana Municipality in Nordland. She is the daughter of Harald Bergstø who worked as a municipal fireman and Erna Bergstø who worked for the Norwegian welfare office. 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, but she and Audun Lysbakken had to step down due to a political financing controversy regarding the appropriation of funds to organisations. 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, a position she held until 2023.

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.

Party leader

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. She was formally elected leader on 18 March.