Food is cheaper now (Aftenposten)

As of yesterday VAT on food was halved, and now we hope to have more money to enjoy after we have done our usual grocery shopping. And yes, there is money to be saved. With a few exceptions, the ordinary groceries we put in our shopping carts yesterday were cheaper. The total was NOK 57 less yesterday than on 28 June.

Voters reject Stoltenberg, but like his policies (Dagsavisen)

According to an opinion poll carried out by AC Nielsen, schools and education are the most important issues for voters. They reject Jens Stoltenberg as prime minister, but agree with him that social welfare is more important than tax reductions. "I am pleased by the results of the poll. It shows that Labour’s priority issues are at the top of the list," said Prime Minister Stoltenberg.

Borten warns against Christian Democrats (Nationen)

Yesterday Centre Party chairman Odd Roger Enoksen ventured into the lion’s den: he ate breakfast with Per Borten, former prime minister and the Grand Old Man of the Centre Party. In Mr. Borten’s view, Centre’s political partner, the Christian Democratic Party, is dishonest, and Kjell Magne Bondevik is power-hungry. "Your job is more difficult than mine was. In my day we were willing to work very hard to reduce the differences between parties. And we didn’t have anyone with Kjell Magne Bondevik’s appetite," said Mr. Borten, referring to the Christian Democrat chairman’s burning desire to be in power.

Petersen wins women (Verdens Gang)

Norwegian women want Jan Petersen. For the first time, the Conservative Party is the top choice of the female voters, too. "Extremely interesting," said the Conservative chairman. The Conservative Party has surged forward on Norsk Gallup’s July survey. The party’s 6.5 per cent increase gives it a total of 34.5 per cent voter support. Labour is down to 22 per cent. The Conservative Party is now more popular than Labour in every part of the country, among both women and men, and among all employed people. What is most surprising is that women are now moving to the Conservative Party. The survey shows that Labour has the support of 24 per cent of the women questioned, while a total of 29 per cent favour Jan Petersen.

Billions of kroner divide Christian Democrats and Conservatives (Vårt Land)

Kjell Magne Bondevik is pleased by his party’s high ratings in the polls and the many offers he is receiving for political collaboration. One of his suitors is Jan Petersen of the Conservative Party. But the difference between the Christian Democrats and the Conservatives is substantial. "The Christian Democrats want to reduce taxes by NOK 10 to 12 billion during the next four years, while the Conservatives’ promises would cost between 40 and 80 billion," said Mr. Bondevik. But he will not divulge who he will choose after the election on 10 September. "We are not giving up the centrist alternative," he said.

Soldiers to receive millions in damages (Aftenposten)

Soldiers who are grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder after having taken part in international operations may be awarded several hundred thousand kroner each in compensation, according to a proposal that the Ministry of Defence has circulated for comment. Around 2500 soldiers serve in international forces every year. The Defence Force’s team for helping soldiers cope with stress has previously estimated that around five per cent of these soldiers experience psychological problems after they return home. If this new legislation is adopted, it will probably be given retroactive effect. Whether damages should be awarded for service since 1978 or 1990 is one of the questions being considered by the Ministry and Headquarters Defence Command Norway.

35 000 new lorries on the roads (Klassekampen)

The Norwegian State Railways goods transport department launched a strategy in April that will result in the termination of a large part of the ordinary goods traffic. The Norwegian Union of Railwaymen has now presented documentation showing that the plans for goods transport will mean an additional 35 000 lorries on Norwegian roads.

Worth noting:

• Kjell Magne Bondevik believes that Labour’s attacks on the Christian Democrats prove that Jens Stoltenberg and the rest of the Government are starting to lose control. "Jens Stoltenberg and his ministers are losing their balance, so they’re attacking others," said Mr. Bondevik. (Dagsavisen)
• The intensity of the tax debate came as a surprise to Jens Stoltenberg. In his view, this is one of the most important reasons for his party’s decline in the opinion polls. (Verdens Gang)
• The labour market is getting tighter. According to recent figures from Aetat, the Norwegian government employment service, 2700 fewer people are registered as unemployed than at this time last year. At the end of June 58 200 people were registered as completely unemployed. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• While the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) is losing thousands of members, the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) is setting new membership records. Almost 16 000 businesses are now members of the NHO. During the past year the LO has lost over 22 000 members, and now has almost 40 000 fewer members than in its top year, 1998. (Dagens Næringsliv)

TODAY’S COMMENT from Verdens Gang:

A wind from the right is now blowing over the entire country, and is carrying voters from all parties with it. The gale-force conservative gusts are reaching people in all walks of life. The only groups that still support Labour, although just barely, are pensioners and people at the lowest end of the income scale. Otherwise the Conservative Party is now the most popular in every group, including government employees. This is pretty incredible. If these figures had been presented half a year ago, nobody would have believed them. Since November 2000 the Conservative Party has doubled its voter support, and has grown by 20 per cent in the past two months alone. This says quite a bit about the strength of the conservative wind. An increasing number of voters are turning their backs on the centrist alternative. A loss of 17 of the centrist alternative’s current 42 mandates in the Storting underlines, yet again, that the alliance of the Christian Democrats, Centre Party and Liberals is in deep trouble. The Centre Party is in danger of getting too few votes to get a seat in the Storting at all, while the Liberal Party has already fallen far below this level. Their hope of returning to a position in the Government grows dimmer each time a new opinion poll is taken. The conservative wind is devastating the political landscape that was established after the election four years ago.