Royal wedding clashes with exam day (Aftenposten)

This year’s final exams for 56,000 secondary school pupils could be switched to a new date. The exam clashes with the forthcoming royal wedding – something the people of Trondheim, where the wedding is to take place, find unacceptable. “The clash could generate conflicts and irritation among pupils. It could be difficult to concentrate on an exam when important things are happening outside,” points out South Trøndelag’s director of education, Ola Moe.

Christian Democrats embrace Conservatives (Dagbladet)

Senior Labour, Socialist Left Party and Centre Party politicians are shocked that the Christian Democrats have voluntarily given up key policies to enable the Conservatives to carry out their major political project. “If Kjell Magne Bondevik were not Prime Minister no one would realize that the Christian Democrats are part of the coalition,” said Labour Party deputy leader Hill-Marta Solberg in an interview with Dagbladet.

Minister promotes Statoil despite Saudi human rights abuses (Verdens Gang)

At meetings with his Saudi opposite number, Ali al-Maimi, yesterday Petroleum and Energy Minister Einar Steensnæs (Chr.Dem) raised Statoil’s wish to establish operations in the mighty oil and gas market on the Arabian Peninsula. This is not altogether problem-free. Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights is one of the worst in the world.

Government agencies relocate at snail’s pace (Nationen)

In the decade 1990 to 2000, 900 central government jobs were moved to locations outside Oslo. Researchers believe relocation battles are damaging to the country’s regions. Professor Harald Sætren of the University of Bergen believes these figures in no way reflect the politicians’ ambitions regarding the relocation of central government agencies.

Put politics ahead of kids – no regrets (Verdens Gang)

Every time leading Labour politician Bjarne Håkon Hanssen returns to Namsos to see his children from a previous marriage, they make it clear how saddened they are by the fact that their father spends so little time with them. He admits it is difficult and heartbreaking, but says that politics has become so important to him that it is a situation he is prepared to live with.

Compensation for 28 after illegal surveillance (Aftenposten)

A recent report from the government-appointed Access Commission confirms claims that the National Police Security Service has itself broken the law in its eagerness to uncover criminal activity. The Commission has therefore decided that the Government must pay NOK 1.4 million in compensation to 28 Norwegians who were illegally kept under surveillance after the last war. New estimates show that before the deadline for applications expires in December, around 4,000 people will probably demand to see the secret files compiled on them by the security service.

Professor demands Reve’s resignation (Dagens Næringsliv)

Professor Ole Gjems-Onstad of the Norwegian School of Management (BI) has demanded the resignation of BI’s chairman, Gunn Wærstad, and vice-chancellor Torger Reve because Ms Wærstad is keeping secret the date when a decision will be made on whether to relocate BI’s three existing campuses to one new site in Oslo.

Worth Noting

• 24-hour shopping will become a reality, if Children and Family Affairs Minister Laila Dåvøy gets her way. And she has the backing of a majority of representatives in the Storting. But the retail trade has not asked for this change in the law, and believes that only a small minority of shops will stay open after 9 o’clock in the evening. (Aftenposten)
• While children as young as 11 sat in the courtroom, the prosecutor showed video footage including bloody images of the three victims murdered at Orderud Farm. Presiding judge Torolv Groseth was unaware that there were children in court. (Dagbladet)
• The Norwegian Food Control Authority is to tighten up the regulations governing the shelf-life of eggs. With today’s routines the eggs will barely have reached the shops before they must be withdrawn from sale. The new regulations will lead to more expensive eggs, warns Prior, the country’s largest egg producer.
• The right to appoint bishops looks like becoming a key issue in the battle over the Church of Norway’s future status. Karita Bekkemellem Orheim believes it would take a lot before the Labour Party was prepared to allow the Church to appoint its own bishops. The scene is therefore set for a new clash between Ms Bekkemellem Orheim and Cultural and Church Affairs Minister Valgerd Svarstad Haugland. (Vårt Land)
• MP Inga Marte Thorkildsen, the Socialist Left Party’s spokesperson on women’s issues, agrees with Hege Storhaug that the women’s movement has betrayed young immigrant women. The issue is extremely controversial on the political left. (Klassekampen)
• Surgeons are in despair because it is becoming increasingly difficult to find corneas for transplantation. They estimate that 200-300 patients each year need a cornea transplant, but hospitals are unable to find that many corneas. (Aftenposten)
• The 350 pupils at Seterbråten school in Oslo have been completely banned from swearing. Even a single swear-word or hurtful expression is enough to warrant punishment. But the pupils themselves think it is a good rule. (Dagbladet)

Today’s comment from Dagsavisen

Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik is struggling to erase the conspicuously blue tinge which attaches to his government. It is the Conservative ministers which have the highest profile, and twice this week the Christian Democratic Party has been steamrollered by the Conservatives – again. On Monday Local Government and Regional Affairs Minister Erna Solberg presented a proposal which clearly demonstrates that the Government has adopted the Conservatives’ negative views on the county councils. Initially the Christian Democrats were prepared to transfer a number of responsibilities from the county governors to the county councils. But this is no longer important for the Christian Democrats. Yesterday the Christian Democrats – and the Liberals of course – agreed to transform the savings bank, Gjensidige NOR, into a limited company. The way is therefore clear for a wide-ranging reorganization of the country’s savings bank system. While Mr Bondevik’s previous centre alliance government held its protective hand over the savings banks out of concern for regional autonomy and local businesses, Mr Bondevik’s current centre-right coalition has put concern for the banks themselves at the top of the list. Just as the Conservatives have wanted all along. Mr Bondevik nevertheless says it would be wrong to deduce that the Christian Democrats are being steamrollered by the Conservatives. But if it is true that the Christian Democrats are not being pushed around by their bigger coalition partner, it must mean that they have voluntarily chosen to run as a pair with the Conservatives. From a political point of view that would not be good for the Christian Democrats. Many people – both inside and outside the party – thought that the Christian Democrats would consider it an important task to keep the Conservatives in check, not just wag their tails in support.

NOREG