Labour will keeps its promises (Dagsavisen)

The Labour Party has promised that within two years Norwegian hospitals will be able to treat 100,000 more patients than it can today, and that unnecessary waiting lists will be eliminated. If not, Health Minister Tore Tønne has promised to find another job. "This amounts to the Minister’s letter of resignation," said Bente G. Slaatten, leader of the Norwegian Nurses’ Association. She does not believe that Norwegian hospitals can increase their efficiency to the levels promised by Mr Tønne without additional funding being allocated.

Stoltenberg insulted Bondevik (Aftenposten)

Kjell Magne Bondevik has described Jens Stoltenberg’s accusation that the Christian Democrats are prejudiced against gays as an unworthy attack. "It is disappointing that the Prime Minister should stoop so low as to accuse me of prejudice, just because we disagree on specific political issues. It shows a lack of respect for a political opponent," said former PM Mr Bondevik. Jens Stoltenberg himself does not understand what all the fuss is about. "My comments were in connection with a specific stance on the legislation allowing gays to formally register their partnerships. In my opinion the Christian Democrats have a point of view which makes it more difficult to eliminate prejudice against those whose sexual orientation is different to the majority’s," said Mr Stoltenberg.

Hagen wants Norwegians jailed abroad (Nationen)

Carl I. Hagen wants convicted Norwegians and foreigners to serve their prison sentences abroad. The Progress Party believes that establishing Norwegian prisons in foreign countries will solve the shortage of prison cells in Norway and help countries with high unemployment and a need for foreign investment. The Progress Party chairman has previously proposed that Norway rent prison space for convicted foreigners in their own countries.

Campaign against Kværner (Aftenposten)

Kværner chief executive Kjell Almskog has said he believes the company has been the victim of a systematic campaign to sow doubts about its future. However, the stock market was unimpressed by Mr Almskog’s claims. The price of Kværner’s shares fell by a further 9.5 per cent yesterday after Mr Almskog announced second-quarter pre-tax profits of NOK 54 million. Celebrity investor Øystein Stray Spetalen has blamed the slump in Kværner’s share price on what he describes as broken promises and misleading information from Mr Almskog.

Princess-to-be asks for a fresh start (Vårt Land)

During yesterday’s press conference at the Palace, Crown Prince Haakon’s fiancée, Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, spoke for the first time about her controversial past. "My teenage rebellion was much more intense than many other people’s. At that time it was very important for me to live my life at odds with the accepted norm. This led to me living in a fairly unrestrained way. I was involved with a crowd which was testing the limits, and we went too far. I know that this has been very difficult for a great many people, and it is something I deeply regret. It was a very painful period for me. Unfortunately I cannot go back and remake those choices, regardless of how much I would like to," said Ms Tjessem Høiby when she was asked to comment on her past during yesterday’s press conference.

PR experts divided (Verdens Gang)

Norwegian PR experts are divided about whether it was right of Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby to comment on her past just three days before her wedding to Crown Prince Haakon. "Strange timing to be speaking out about her previous flirtation with drugs, three days before the wedding," said Martin Apenes, head of media relations at Geelmuyden.Kiese. "This was very well done of Mette-Marit. Very brave. She tackled it well and gave a very genuine impression," said Terje Svabø of Dinamo PR.

Worth Noting

• Are you wondering whether the Labour Party keep its promises? Well, you can forget about finding the answer on the web. The ruling party has removed its election manifesto from its website. (Dagsavisen)
• According to the organization, Youth Against Narcotics, Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby’s announcement that she opposes the use of drugs is of little significance. (NTB)
• King Harald has given his full support to his future daughter-in-law, Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, following her surprise comments on her misspent youth. (Verdens Gang)
• Braathens chief executive Arne A. Jensen has said his predecessor, Erik Braathen, must take a large part of the blame for the company’s current predicament. Tucked away in a drawer, Mr Jensen has "plan B", which involves downsizing Braathens into a much smaller organization if SAS is not allowed to proceed with its takeover plans. (Dagens Næringsliv)

Today’s comment from Nationen

In the end Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby chose to come out in the open about her intemperate past, and not a moment too soon either. If something was going to be said, it had to be said before the wedding. And Mette-Marit very definitely had an obligation to say something. In fact, we are a little surprised that it has not been said before, and would not rule out the fact that yesterday’s explanation was the Palace’s way of pre-empting subsequent media coverage. For it is from the moment of her marriage on Saturday that Mette-Marit really becomes interesting for the media – including the international press. But what will be, will be. And anyway the time has come to ask who is righteous enough to cast the first stone. There is no denying that the situation is problematic and a little embarrassing for the royal family, and by extension for the people who the royal family represent. But to use a phrase appropriate for the monarchy itself, this should be a time of forgiveness and understanding – of course. Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby has won Crown Prince Haakon’s heart, and she has been welcomed into the royal family with open arms. In the years ahead she will have a thousand opportunities to show what she is made of, both as a private individual and in her role as Crown Princess. Nothing else matters now.