Hagen keeps Bondevik on tenterhooks (Dagsavisen)

Before the Progress Party says whether it will support a new government, it is demanding political concessions from Kjell Magne Bondevik. At 12.00 today prime ministerial candidate Kjell Magne Bondevik will receive a missive from Progress Party chairman Carl I. Hagen asking him to answer 25 questions on the new government’s political platform. "Demanding changes to a document which represents a government’s declared political platform is out of the question. The document has already been negotiated and announced to the public. But there may be issues which could be added," said Mr Hagen last night. According to Mr Hagen, the Progress Party’s parliamentary group expressed a number of differing opinions when it met yesterday to discuss whether the party should support a change of government or not.

Progress Party demands key positions in the Storting (Verdens Gang)

The Progress Party may demand the chairmanship of the Storting’s Finance Committee in return for its support for a new government. This could give the party’s deputy chairman, Siv Jensen, a crucial position in the Storting, whose responsibilities would include leading the national budget negotiations. "It would be positive for the climate between the Progress Party and the other parties if the chairman of the Finance Committee came from our side," said Progress Party MP John Alfvheim. However, he also said that this was no absolute requirement for the party’s support for a new tripartite government.

Government will probably resign on Tuesday (Dagsavisen)

The Labour Party is now working on the premise that Carl I. Hagen will give Kjell Magne Bondevik his support on Tuesday. "It is almost certain that the Progress Party will announce its position on Tuesday, and that this will lead to a change of government," said Hill-Marta Solberg, leader of the Labour Party’s parliamentary group. She applauds the Progress Party’s decision to announce its timetable for deciding whether it will support a change of government. However, the Stoltenberg government will not resign before the Progress Party has announced its decision.

New government will allow more searches (Aftenposten)

The new government currently taking shape has promised to widen police powers to make it easier for them to perform body searches if they suspect someone of carrying a concealed weapon or explosives. In an announcement which the Conservatives, Christian Democrats and Liberals have negotiated in the past few days, the three parties declare their support for extended police powers in the search for illegal weapons.

Passive Enoksen (Nationen)

"People who claim that the coalition’s political platform represents centrist policies are mistaken. Policies which lead to a widening of the income gap, a reduction in public services and centralization are not centrist," said Centre Party chairman Odd Roger Enoksen. While the entire political community is now waiting for Carl I. Hagen to pass judgment on the new government, Mr Enoksen remains passive. "We no longer have the pivotal position we used to have. We will not be proposing a vote of no confidence in the incoming government’s declaration of political intent, but we will be working hard to prevent government policy veering more to the right," he said.

SAS wants to pay less for Braathens (Dagens Næringsliv)

SAS’s management wants to back out of its current agreement to acquire Braathens. The plan is to cancel the deal if the Norwegian Competition Authority gives permission for the acquisition to take place. SAS will then negotiate a new agreement at a lower purchase price. According to the current deal, SAS has agreed to pay NOK 1.1 billion for Braathens. The Competition Authority is due to make its final decision on whether SAS can take over Braathens, and on what terms, by 21 November.

Kværner gets no help from Røkke (Dagens Næringsliv)

Carnegie’s Kværner analyst, Rachid Bendriss, believes the banks could be forced to refinance Kværner and convert debt into equity. "Bankruptcy is a very real alternative," he said. But he also believes the banks have too much to lose if the company goes bankrupt. Kjell Inge Røkke yesterday issued a press release in which he makes it abundantly clear that Aker Maritime will not underwrite a share issue.

Worth Noting

• The centre-right parties have now shared out all the various government ministries. The Conservatives get 10, the Liberals 3 and the Christian Democrats 6, including the office of Prime Minister. (Dagsavisen)
• Chairman of the Christian Democratic Party Valgerd Svarstad Haugland knows what position she wants in the new government, and has already made it clear to Kjell Magne Bondevik that she wishes to be Minister of Culture, according to reliable sources Aftenposten has spoken to. (Aftenposten)
• A new Bondevik government will grant tax relief on donations to voluntary organizations, up to a maximum of NOK 12,000 per year. This could give a boost to the finances of Christian and charitable organizations worth several million kroner. (Vårt Land)
• The Horten-based company, Park Air Systems, will arrive in Milan today to install a ground radar system at Linate Airport. "It is too early to say how long installation will take, but I estimate that our part of the job will be completed by the end of October," said company spokesman Øystein Narvhus. (Aftenposten)

Today’s comment from Dagsavisen

The King opened the newly elected Storting yesterday in time-honoured, ceremonial fashion by reading out the Government’s Speech from the Throne. It was the only vaguely normal thing about the country’s national assembly this time around. One month after the general election, it is still unclear which government will lead the country through the coming term, and therefore which policy declaration the Storting will debate. The issue of who will form the next government shows that the Storting is having difficulty adjusting to the complicated political situation which has arisen following the election. The situation can only be dealt with if the parties are willing to give the term, "cooperation", some real meaning. Anyone who takes the time to compare yesterday’s Speech from the Throne, drawn up by the Stoltenberg government, with the political declaration published by the tripartite coalition will discover that the two sides are both fighting for a position in the political centre. When the distance between them is as small as it is today, it should not be too difficult for the parties represented in the Storting to build alliances which can result in an effective government.