Finnmark protest movement spreads south (Nationen)

Support for the rebellious women of Finnmark is pouring in from all over the country. A popular movement protesting against centralization and what is seen as the arrogance of the Oslo-based central administration is taking shape. "We feel many of the same frustrations as the people of Finnmark," says Labour politician Arne Grue from Os in Østerdalen, eastern Norway.

Tønne opens door to hospital privatization (Aftenposten)

In the bill on the transfer of hospital ownership from the counties to central government, Health Minister Tore Tønne has opened the door to privatization of some hospital functions. "The provision allows for hospitals to be split up or spun off completely. This is something we find totally unacceptable," says Bente G.H. Slaatten, president of the Norwegian Nurses’ Association. The Association is now threatening to withdraw its support for the reform.

Widespread outsourcing expected after hospital reform (Klassekampen)

Karl Glad, former chairman of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) and former chairman of Ullevål Hospital, believes the proposed reform of the hospital system will make it possible for hospitals to outsource a number of functions. Mr Glad’s claim is made on the assumption that the new system gives hospital boards the freedom to spin off any part of a hospital’s activities that they see fit. However, Mr Glad does not believe there is a large market for private hospitals in Norway.

Røkke turns up the heat on Almskog (Dagens Næringsliv)

Aker Maritime’s major shareholder, Kjell Inge Røkke, is determined to get his own way when it comes to Kværner. Yesterday he presented his plans for a merger between Aker Maritime and Kværner – with a self-confident smile and comments which were bound to act like a red flag to a bull for Kværner chief executive Kjell Almskog. To substantiate the gains to be achieved from a merger between the two companies, Mr Røkke and Aker Maritime chief executive Sverre Skogen produced a list of major synergy benefits. Unlike Kværner’s management, the two representatives from Aker Maritime believe Aker Maritime and Kværner are to a large degree complementary in their activities, also in the North Sea.

Union boss continues fight against Røkke (Verdens Gang)

Kværner’s powerful union boss, Rolf Utgård, is taking a tough stance on Kjell Inge Røkke’s latest move. He too wants Kværner to move its head offices back to Norway. VG reported yesterday that in meetings with government representatives Mr Røkke had indicated he wants to bring Kværner home to Norway. Despite Mr Utgård’s belligerent tone, he is having difficulty winning the backing of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) for his battle against Kjell Inge Røkke. Kjell Bjørndalen, president of the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions, has responded positively to the billionaire businessman’s latest plans.

Kleppe may be selected as top candidate in two counties (Aftenposten)

Vidar Kleppe looks set to top the list of election candidates being forwarded by break-away groups within the Progress Party in both Vest-Agder and Hordaland counties. When he is expelled from the party, Mr Kleppe’s supporters in both counties are ready to establish new lists in collaboration with the Danielsen-faction in Oslo. The Local Government Ministry has confirmed that it is perfectly possible to be selected as a candidate in more than one county.

Oil company employees enjoy bonus bonanza (Dagbladet)

The oil companies have announced huge bonuses for their employees. Many oil company employees can look forward to bonuses of NOK 100,000-200,000. Last year was an exceptionally good one for the majority of oil companies. High oil prices, measures to increase efficiency and the discovery of new deposits all contributed to the industry’s extremely good financial results. This has led to a bonus bonanza for the majority of oil company employees. Yesterday, Shell employees were celebrating a bonus amounting to 18.5 per cent of their annual salary – on average NOK 80,000 per employee.

Jagland supports Norwegian Attac (Klassekampen)

Labour Party chairman Thorbjørn Jagland claims that Attac represents an ally in relation to the Government’s policies. But Attac opposes privatization and the EU’s Patents Directive. The movement is also calling for higher taxes on unearned income. Today 80 people, mostly from a variety of non-government organisations, will be meeting in Oslo to discuss the formation of Attac Norway. The meeting’s participants will elect a temporary steering committee and discuss the political basis for Attac’s Norwegian branch.

Worth Noting

• Customs officers have stepped up their checks of aircraft and ferries arriving from the UK. Norwegian authorities are afraid that foot-and-mouth disease may spread to Norway, and have already developed plans for the destruction of sick herds. (Aftenposten)
• Norwegian salmon exports continue to reach new heights. In January alone, exports rose by NOK 81 million compared to the same period last year. The Norwegian Seafood Export Council believes the recent BSE crisis within the EU has made an important contribution to the growth in sales. (Nationen)
• In 1994 a Colombian was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for a drugs offence which he did not commit. He has now been awarded NOK 3.5 million in compensation. Per Liland is the only person to have served a longer prison sentence following what was later proved to be a wrongful conviction. (Aftenposten)
• Terje Søviknes is not planning to resign as mayor of Os. On Wednesday the Telemark and Vestfold public prosecutor decided not to bring charges against Mr Søviknes in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl during the annual conference of the Progress Party’s youth wing in January last year. (NTB)
• According to the Norwegian Central Bank, the total amount of debt incurred by private individuals, local authorities and businesses increased by NOK 161.4 billion last year. This is bad news for anyone looking for a drop in interest rates.

Today’s comment from Aftenposten

Today, Progress Party MPs from Oppland, North Trøndelag and Nordland counties will set off on one of the strangest political expeditions in modern Norwegian history. At a meeting in Kristiansand, members of the Progress Party’s Vest-Agder branch will hear that their currently elected MP, and top candidate at the next general election, is unwanted by his parliamentary colleagues. Despite a great deal of mumbo jumbo from party chairman Carl I. Hagen and other members of the Progress Party’s parliamentary group, it remains unclear just what mandate MPs Thore A. Nistad, Per Sandberg and Kenneth Svendsen have to meddle with decisions made by a legally convened selection committee. Only Vest-Agder’s party members can decide if they have confidence in Vidar Kleppe as the county organization’s top candidate at the next general election. We have no great desire to contribute to Mr Kleppe’s political future. But it does not matter how much Mr Kleppe may have irritated the party leadership or his fellow MPs with his unauthorized public pronouncements, we do not accept the attempt to undermine the democratic process that will take place in Kristiansand today. There is no excuse for this kind of abuse of power – not even in the Progress Party, which Carl I. Hagen is trying, not entirely successfully, to transform from a movement based on popular protest from the grass roots into a monolithic party controlled from above.