Norway Daily No. 193/99

The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Oslo Press Division

Norway Daily No. 193/99

DATE: 7 October 1999

HAUGLAND NEEDS TO EXPLAIN

(Dagsavisen)

Yesterday evening Valgerd Svarstad Haugland, Minister of Children and Family Affairs, had to silence criticism from her own parliamentary group. During the past few days several Storting representatives from the Christian Democratic Party have expressed their dissatisfaction that many families with children will actually be worse off as a result of the centrist government's budget proposal.

STEALING MAYORS FROM ONE ANOTHER

(Aftenposten)

In several municipalities the political horse-trading after local elections has given rise to conflicts between the three coalition parties: the Christian Democrats, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party. A survey of local election results shows that these three parties have exchanged mayors among themselves in 19 municipalities. Prominent local Christian Democrat and Liberal politicians have accused the Centre Party of going to any lengths to gain mayoral seats. In the view of many local politicians this weakens cooperation in the Government.

NORWEGIAN KRONE UP FOR GRABS

(Dagbladet)

While Finance Minister Gudmund Restad wants our banks to remain in Norwegian hands, he is putting production of the Norwegian krone out to tender. In a bill that was submitted to the Storting on Monday, the Government proposed an amendment to the Act relating to Norges Bank and the monetary system. This amendment would permit Norges Bank to let Norwegian coins and bills be produced in other countries. Fifty jobs in the country's oldest enterprise, the Royal Mint in Kongsberg, may be at risk.

1200 NORWEGIAN SOLDIERS IN KOSOVO

(Aftenposten)

Norwegian soldiers have been given responsibility for one of the most volatile areas in Kosovo. Yesterday the main contingent of 600 troops arrived, and today all 1200 will be in place. The area they will be responsible for is near Pristina, but does not include the province's capital city.

THIRTEEN WOLVES TO BE SHOT

(Dagsavisen)

If farmers and the municipal authorities have their way, 13 wolves in Østfold and Hedmark counties may soon be shot. After around 160 sheep have fallen prey to wolves so far this year, an application has been submitted for the shooting of two wolf family groups: six in Østfold and seven in Hedmark. "Our application is also based on the deep frustration and fear felt by the general public as a result of these attacks. The wolves are extremely bold," says Inger Johanne Sikkeland of the Østfold Farmers' Union.

STAY ON THE JOB LONGER

(Verdens Gang)

The actual retirement age in Norway has gone down to 62 years and nine months. The Government considers this to be too young, and will try to make early retirement less attractive. "The challenges are immense. The real retirement age must go up, not down," according to State Secretary Endre Skjørestad at the Ministry of Finance.

LAWYERS BUYING SUPREME COURT CASES

(NTB)

Lawyers have bought cases from each other in order to pass the legal examination required to qualify for the right to attend Norway's highest court, the Supreme Court. Lawyers must conduct one civil appeal case and one criminal case before the Supreme Court in order to qualify for this right. According to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, the price for cases that can confer this right, which are of course the most desirable cases, is said to range from NOK 50,000 to NOK 150,000.

PRICE IS DECISIVE FOR KREDITKASSEN

(Dagens Næringsliv)

The price will be the deciding factor in Kreditkassen's response to the bid from MeritaNordbanken, according to Group Managing Director Tom Ruud. Half of the freely negotiable shares in Kreditkassen have changed hands since the offer from the Swedish bank was made public on 20 September.

WORTH NOTING

• * Storting representative Grete Knudsen (Labour) provoked the wrath of many trade unions by questioning the close collaboration between the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Labour Party. The fuss died down when, later in the day, she repudiated the newspaper article, and claimed that what she really meant was that Labour should assess and revitalize its cooperation with the Confederation. (Dagsavisen) * In connection with the fiscal budget, the Conservative Party will vote against the State becoming part owner of the gigantic new IT centre at Fornebu. This means the Conservatives are presenting a new budget ultimatum. (Verdens Gang) * Den norske Bank and Handelsbanken must either bid on Kreditkassen, or keep quiet with regard to MeritaNordbanken's bid, says Harald Arnkværn, Chairman of the Board at Kreditkassen. (Aftenposten) * Per-Kristian Foss, the Conservative Party's fiscal policy spokesman, says the party will discuss whether the State should acquire a right of veto through an amendment of the bank's articles so as to keep Den norske Bank in Norwegian hands. (Dagens Næringsliv) * Petroleum and Energy Minister Marit Arnstad is open to the possibility of having Norway sell more gas to the rest of Europe. This may require further development on the Norwegian continental shelf. (Dagens Næringsliv) * Norwegian glaciers situated close to coastal areas are continuing to grow, as opposed to most glaciers in the rest of the world. This is due to the large amounts of precipitation during the winter at the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s. (Aftenposten)

TODAY'S COMMENT

For the first time, a key figure in the Labour Party has expressed a desire to re-evaluate the relationship between Labour and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions. This was reported in the newspaper Bergens Tidende yesterday, where Storting representative Grete Knudsen (Labour) suggested that their connections should now be severed. Today the formal ties between the political party and the Confederation function as a straitjacket for both. Their mutual dependence inhibits them and reduces their room to manoeuvre. For Labour, the alliance with the Confederation has obviously become a liability in the campaign to gain votes. It must also be difficult for the Confederation to defend its relationship with Labour when more and more employees, even in traditionally Labour-oriented occupations, vote for other parties. So it is a liability for both parties to cling so determinedly to an outworn form of cooperation. It also violates the democratic principles of our society. If the Labour Party is to be in a position to undergo the necessary process of renewal, it must review its relationship with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions. (Dagbladet)