Alf Ivar Samuelsen (28 February 1942 – 16 September 2014) was a Norwegian politician associated with the Centre Party. Born and based in the island municipality of Flakstad in Lofoten, he combined local leadership with a brief national parliamentary career. His life and work are remembered in the communities of Nordland for their focus on rural and coastal concerns.

Political career

Samuelsen began his public service in local government and rose to the office of mayor of Flakstad, holding that position from 1986 to 1987. He was later elected to the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) from Nordland in 2005 and served one four-year term, leaving national office after the 2009 election. His path — from municipal leadership to a single term in the Storting — reflects a common route for politicians representing Norway's more rural regions.

Throughout his career he was associated with the Centre Party's emphasis on decentralisation, local self-government and the interests of agriculture, fisheries and small communities. While in national office Samuelsen represented a constituency whose economy and daily life are shaped by coastal fisheries, small-scale farming and dispersed settlements, and his background in Flakstad informed his approach to those issues.

Key facts

  • Born: 28 February 1942 in Flakstad, Nordland.
  • Mayor of Flakstad: 1986–1987.
  • Member of the Storting for Nordland: elected 2005, served until 2009.
  • Died: 16 September 2014 in a tractor accident in Flakstad.

His death at age 72 in an agricultural accident brought attention to the risks that remain part of rural life. Local authorities and residents marked his passing as the loss of a long-standing local figure who had carried the concerns of a small municipality to a national stage.

As a public figure from Lofoten, Samuelsen's career illustrates the role of mayoral experience in preparing politicians for parliamentary service in Norway. His profile typifies representatives who prioritize services, infrastructure and livelihoods in sparsely populated coastal areas, and his long-term connection to Flakstad remained central to how he was known by colleagues and constituents.