Valbar

Valbar is a term used in Norwegian and, to a lesser extent, in other Nordic languages to describe a person who is eligible to stand for elective office. In political discourse and electoral law, someone described as valbar is permitted by law to be a candidate in an election, assuming they satisfy any additional statutory requirements (such as age, citizenship, or residency) and are not disqualified by other provisions. The term is concerned with eligibility to be elected, rather than with the outcome of the election.

Etymology and usage: The word is formed from val- meaning “election” and the suffix -bar, indicating capability or suitability. The related noun valbarhet means “electability” or “the state of being electable.” In Norwegian, common collocations include valbar kandidat (an electable candidate) or valbarhet of a person. The concept is primarily used in discussions of who may lawfully contest a political contest and interacts with other eligibility criteria defined in national constitutions and election laws.

Cross-linguistic notes: Similar concepts exist in other languages under different terms; cognates or parallel constructions appear in related Scandinavian languages, though the exact form valbar is most widely attested in Norwegian contexts. In English-language writing, valbar is typically translated as “eligible for election” or “electable.”

See also: Electability, Eligibility, Candidacy, Electoral law.