Nelline Opland

Nelline Opland (born 22nd of September, 3884) is a Kazulian Folkepartiet politician and the current leader of Folkepartiet. In 3911, not yet being a member of the Storting, she was elected to succeed Ingbert Mathiassen as Folkepartiet's party leader in what was seen by many as an upset victory generally attributed to the lack of inspiring older candidates. She is noted for the extremely young age of only 26 at which she was catapulted into both the leadership and national politics in general, she is one of the youngest party leaders in Kazulian political history. However, despite her young age and inexperience, she is generally described as passionate and not altogether uncharismatic.

Early life and education
Nelline Opland, unlike many Folkepartiet politicians, was born and raised in urban Skalm, growing up in one of its leafy sub-urbs as the daughter of an Aurorian Patriarchal permanent deacon and his wife, a teacher. Through the diaconal work of her father, despite her privileged upbringing, Nelline developed a strong social conscience. At secondary school, she joined the nascent Unge Folkepartiet youth organisation, of which she would later serve as President. In 3902, she started studying Political Science at Skalm University, with a minor in Cultural Anthropology. During her time at university, she established a long-lasting friendship with later Storting colleague Janne-Katrine Juel, daughter of Folkepartiet's inaugural leader.

Early political career
In 3904, Nelline was selected as a delegate for Dreton's Fylkeforbundet to the Party Council, a position she would hold until being elected Chairwoman of Unge Folkepartiet in 3908 (as she was thereafter an ex officio delegate to the Party Council). Before graduating in 3907, Opland was immediately approached by Folkepartiet leader Ingbert Mathiassen to become and intern for the party's Storting Group. This internship would soon become a permanent position, though after her election as Chairwoman of Unge Folkepartiet, her activities for the Storting Group were put slightly on the backburner. Regretting the fact that her job was solely political, she accepted a job as a part-time teacher in social studies at a secondary school in Skalm, a job she maintains even after her election to the Storting.

Party Leadership (3911-present)
After the 3910 election defeat and the ensuing loss of government participation resulted in the resignation of Ingbert Mathiassen and Edvald Dahl from the leadership, Nelline Opland became an unlikely candidate for the leadership. According to sources within the party quoted by the media, her name was put into nomination by several members of the party cadre. As she was set to get married in March 3911, at first Opland was hesitant about letting her name go forward, fearing it would detract from her family life and come too early in her career, dismissing the possibility of election as highly unlikely. She later revealed that the final nudge to allow her name to go forward was given by her longtime friend Janne-Katrine Juel, who had been elected to the Storting during the election, and her fiancé, Ole Andersen, a history teacher whom she met while working as a teacher, who offered to start working part-time to share the parenting load. Running on a platform of what is perhaps best described as radical centrism, Opland's campaign surged ahead to a wide margin of victory over second-placed candidate Adelheid Prestegard, though many note this might also be due to the uninspiring performance of Prestegard's campaign, and was duly elected Folkepartiet leader at the young age of 26, making her one of the youngest party leaders in Kazulian political history. The same day, she was sworn in as a member of the Storting, succeeding party veteran Winnie Fagerland, who retired in order to allow the new leader a seat.

Personal life
Opland married history teacher Ole Andersen, a teaching colleague, in early 3911. The couple have no children as of yet, but Opland has made statements to the effect that she and Ole want to have children, and that she would take maternity leave if necessary. The Opland family lives in sub-urban Skalm. In her free time, Opland is a fervent sailor and alpine skier.