Voters turn backs on Progress Party at local level (Aftenposten)

Carl I. Hagen still appeals to the voters, but things look worse for the Progress Party ahead of this autumn’s local elections. According to a poll carried out by Opinion, less than half the voters who say they plan to support the Progress Party at the general elections will vote for the party at the up-coming local elections. "This underlines the fact that much of the support given to the Progress Party in opinion polls asking how people would vote in a general election is an expression of protest against the other main parties," said election expert Bernt Aardal. It looks as though the Conservatives, of all the parties represented in the Storting, has most to gain at the next elections, which are local elections. Support for the party is 3.9 per cent higher among those asked how they would vote at a local election rather than a general election. The Labour Party, on the other hand, does not receive any more support locally.

Call for Labour Party to elect only one deputy leader (NRK/NTB)

The executive committee of the Labour Party’s Østfold County branch says that one deputy leader is enough for Labour. The branch wants the party’s national committee to make a proposal to that effect when it meets on Thursday. The Østfold County branch says that this move could put an end to the current fierce debate about gender quotas in the Labour Party leadership. Ranveig Frøiland, chairman of the party’s Hordaland branch, says she would support a proposal for a single deputy leader.

Giske silent on solution to gender issue (Dagsavisen)

Trond Giske is keeping his mouth firmly shut and is refusing to say what he thinks about including the leader of the Labour Party’s women’s movement in the party’s leadership team. A solution of this kind would considerably strengthen Mr Giske’s chances of becoming deputy leader. Firstly, it would mean the Labour leadership would consist of 40 per cent women, even if a man is elected as deputy leader. Secondly, it would eliminate Mr Giske’s closest rival, Karita Bekkemellem Orheim. She is leader of the party’s women’s movement and can hardly be elected deputy leader if she is to join the leadership team in that capacity.

Hanssen: I can withdraw (Dagbladet)

Bjarne Håkon Hanssen has said he is willing to withdraw his candidacy for the Labour Party’s deputy leader slot to make way for a woman – but on condition that he is asked to throw in the towel. "There is no doubt that the gender equality aspect is very important for the Labour Party’s credibility. But it would be unreasonable for me as a candidate to make a decision on this issue. I would have to leave that up to the people who have proposed me as candidate – my own branch organization," said Mr Hanssen.

Valla refuses to halt the conflict (Dagbladet)

An increasing number of Labour Party heavyweights want an end to the deputy leader row which is dividing the party. They have called on Gerd-Liv Valla, who chairs the party’s selection committee, to intervene. But Ms Valla is refusing to do so. "I think it is quite alright that there is a debate, that must surely be the whole point of spending so long before a decision is made. I only hope the sides do not become too uncompromising," she said. Ms Valla has previously stated that the selection committee is working within the current party rules, ie that there should be two deputy leaders. Apart from that she is unwilling to steer the debate in any particular direction – at least not yet.

Church fears further revelations of sexual abuse (Vårt Land)

During the past five years the Church of Norway has handled 16 cases of alleged sexual abuse. Bishop Odd Bondevik fears that the problem could be far greater. "The problem is obviously much larger. We have made some progress, but not enough in terms of uncovering and dealing with such cases. But awareness of the problem has certainly increased within the Church, and we now have a set of rules and a structure in place," said Mr Bondevik.

Cabinet row over additional tax cuts (Aftenposten)

Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss is trying to win his cabinet colleagues’ support for tax cuts amounting to some NOK 11 billion next year, NOK 1 billion more than previously announced. The Christian Democrats are not particularly keen to back Mr Foss’s proposals, and want tax cuts to be as small as possible within today’s economic framework. The Government therefore faces major problems when it tries to agree next year’s economic policy at its budget conference on Wednesday and Thursday.

No meeting (Dagens Næringsliv)

Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss is keeping the Progress Party’s Siv Jensen at arms length. Even though the Government is banking on the Progress Party’s support in the budget process, it has not invited the party to talks before it finalizes its proposals. Siv Jensen played two important roles in the budget process last autumn. She is the Progress Party’s economic policy spokesperson, and will therefore lead the party’s budget negotiations with the Government. At the same time, she chairs the Storting’s Finance Committee, and is responsible for ensuring the passage of the budget through the national assembly.

Worth Noting

• The other political parties have not applauded Carl I. Hagen’s call for a public inquiry into the way the country’s anti-terrorism effort has been handled over the past eight years. As soon as the Storting reconvenes this autumn, the Progress Party will formally present its demand. However, Mr Hagen will get no support from any of the other parties.
  (Aftenposten)
• Kjell Bjørndalen, president of the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions, is demanding that salaries in industry should once again be higher than in other sectors. "This year’s substantial wage rises for other groups should be an exception," he said.
  (Dagsavisen)
• Today King Harald will open the oil industry exhibition, Offshore Northern Seas, in Stavanger. This is something he has done five times in the past ten years – in return for NOK 1.25 million in donations to the royal family’s charitable trust. "This is a form of quid pro quo which is extremely unfortunate," says political science professor Trond Nordby. The Palace maintains that this arrangement is quite unexceptional.
  (Dagbladet)
• The game has started in Johannesburg. Yesterday it became clear that the EU supports Norway’s proposal that all countries be strongly encouraged to ratify the Kyoto Protocol – the climate change agreement hated by the USA.
  (Aftenposten)
• Mullah Krekar’s family in Norway does not constitute any protection against being thrown out of the country, says Local Government and Regional Affairs Minister Erna Solberg. However, she refused to indicate what Norway’s response to the suspected Islamist terrorist would be.
  (Dagbladet)
• Norwegian and international climatologists are afraid that the ice around the North Pole could shrink by up to 25 per cent by 2050. Such a change could spell the end for the polar bear.
  (ANB)
• Kjell Inge Røkke has got rid of 20 senior executives since he took control of Kværner. The company’s London office has been cut by almost half.
  (Dagens Næringsliv)
• All the indications are that the country’s second woman bishop will be appointed in Tunsberg. Laila Riksaasen Dahl is preferred by the current college of bishops, the majority of whom will probably make her their first choice. Most of those on the National Council of the Church of Norway will in all probability do the same.
  (Aftenposten)
• Incoming leader of the Labour Party, Jens Stoltenberg, says that if efforts are made to slow the growth in the number of coffee bars and other private sector service providers there will be room for both industry and nursing homes in Norway.
  (Dagens Næringsliv)
• If you dream of owning a cheap, historic vicarage you should keep your eyes peeled now. 33 of Norway’s most beautiful smallholdings – vicarage farms – are to be put on sale for less than you would pay for an average house in Oslo.
  (Verdens Gang)

Today’s comment from Dagens Næringsliv

Incoming Labour Party leader, Jens Stoltenberg, thinks Norwegians spend too much time in coffee bars, drinking café-latte. He has now launched the notion of using the tax system to slow down the growth in popularity of coffee bars and demand for other private sector services. However, it is not exactly clear how Mr Stoltenberg intends to use the tax system to put the Norwegian people off their café-lattes. He hints that industry could be given more advantageous tax rules, while café-latte bars would have to put up with today’s rates. That would represent a relative worsening of business conditions for coffee bar owners. Or he may block tax cuts for private individuals to prevent their mad excesses. With this proposal Jens Stoltenberg could write himself into history alongside his party colleague, Sylvia Brustad, whose name will for all time – we hope – be linked to the Brustad booth. That she has subsequently seen the error of her ways and now regrets her battle to prevent shops larger than 100 square metres being allowed to open on Sundays does not make her any the less memorable. There is something refreshing about politicians who think and say things which give us a good laugh. On the other hand there is always a danger that someone could take what they say seriously and try to get it implemented. It is strange what seeds prove capable of germination and grow into unpleasant weeds.