Tore Tønne found dead (Aftenposten/Sunday)

Former Health Minister Tore Tønne was found dead yesterday. Close friends, the police and officers of the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime had been searching for Mr Tønne for 24 hours. Mr Tønne was found near his car, which was parked in a lay-by at Skaret near Søllihøgda. According to the police, no one else was involved in Mr Tønne’s death. Mr Tønne had been under formidable pressure after it became known that he had received salary payments from the Storting after resigning as Health Minister, at the same time as he was working on behalf of Kjell Inge Røkke. The National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime had initiated an investigation into the affair and, from what Aftenposten is given to understand, had informed Mr Tønne of their preliminary conclusion on Friday afternoon.

Our worst nightmare (Dagbladet)

For the officers of the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime their worst nightmare is that the person they are investigating should commit suicide. "It is our worst nightmare in an investigation. We know from experience that the pressure on the person being investigated and their immediate family is enormous. We see this particularly in our investigations of financial irregularities. Sometimes we fear that the strain will be too great, and we do not have the apparatus to deal with such situations," said Erling Grimstad, head of the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime.

Press blamed for Tønne’s death (Dagens Næringsliv)

According to Jens Ulltveit-Moe, president of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO), "The tabloid press killed Tore Tønne". The media’s relentless pursuit of the man who had been his close friend, has made the president of the NHO question whether he himself can bear to hold a controversial public office. John Olav Egeland, editor-in-chief of Dagbladet, has refused to enter into a debate with Mr Ulltveit-Moe. It was Dagbladet which first broke the story.

Media calls for investigation into media’s role (Aftenposten)

Per Edgar Kokkvold, secretary general of the Norwegian Press Association, has called for the media’s role in the Tønne affair to be investigated from an ethical point of view by independent media experts. "We will carry out a review of the media’s role. I think that is a natural thing to do in a case like this. For who is to watch the watchdogs? It is certainly important that we look at our own role with critical eyes," said Mr Kokkvold.

People’s choice (Dagsavisen)

A government made up of the Labour Party, Socialist Left Party and Centre Party would be more popular than the current government, according to a recent opinion poll. 43 per cent of those questioned would prefer to see the country run by a centre-left alliance, while today’s government has the backing of 33 per cent. 24 per cent either had no opinion, or preferred another alternative. The Progress Party is the only party whose voters are divided in their view of which government alternative is the best. As many as one Progress Party voter in five prefers a government made up of the centre-left parties rather than the Bondevik government which the party itself helped to bring to power and has saved from extinction several times.

The people don’t trust you, Kjell Magne (Dagbladet/Sunday)

Only 32 per cent of the Norwegian people have faith in the sitting government. That is exactly half as many as those who said they had faith in the first Bondevik government in 1997. Not even the Stoltenberg government had as little popular support as the ruling coalition government. "This is not surprising. People are tired of minority governments. They do not understand the games it is necessary for a minority government to play in the Storting," said political scientist and commentator Frank Aarebrot.

Investors queue up to build prisons (Aftenposten)

In financial circles building prisons is seen as a growth industry, with the state as a rock solid tenant. Several investors have signalled their interest in building new prisons. 2,600 people are currently waiting to serve their sentences in Norway, which means the demand for prison cells is enormous. And the Ministry of Justice is keen to welcome private investors. "We are generally positive to private initiative in the prison sector," report Ministry officials. In Alta, a privately built prison costing around NOK 150 million is now in the planning stage. The financing is thought to be in order.

Local history and ethical debate (Dagsavisen/Sunday)

While the bosses at the radio station P4 are preparing to appeal against Cultural Affairs Minister Valgerd Svarstad Haugland’s decision not to renew its broadcasting licence, their successful rivals at Kanal4 are busy planning how they will use the Minister’s pre-Christmas present. Kanal4’s licence application contained examples of a number of different radio programmes, including details about each programme’s name, contents and scheduling. Kanal4 plans to fill its programming with weighty analyses, local history and ethical/religious debates.

Norwegian companies could get surprise visit from Brussels (Aftenposten)

Following a decision by the Storting in the last week before Christmas, the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) in Brussels could turn up unannounced at privately and publicly owned companies to check that the EEA Agreement’s rules on state subsidies are being abided by, or to secure evidence in cases concerning state subsidies. The ESA now has the same rights that the Norwegian Competition Authority has in anti-trust cases.

Norwegians fill up their piggy banks (Dagsavisen/Sunday)

Norwegians have more money to spare than ever before. Uncertain times have turned us into hoarders. In the past two years bank customers have increased their average level of deposits from NOK 30,000 to NOK 40,000, according to recent figures. "Savings in bank deposits will grow by 11-12 per cent," said Kalle Seip of the Norwegian Savings Banks’ Association.

Worth Noting

• Law professor Carl August Fleischer doubts whether Tore Tønne was guilty of any punishable offence in connection with receipts of "waiting pay" after his resignation as Health Minister and his success fee from Kjell Inge Røkke.
  (Dagens Næringsliv)
• "Tore Tønne was a public spirited man. He leaves behind a colossal contribution to Norwegian society. Tore’s loss is a tragedy," said Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg.
  (Dagsavisen/Sunday)
• Tore Tønne believed he was innocent, but he feared that no one would believe him. He chose not to defend himself against the charges brought against him by the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime.
  (Verdens Gang)
• According to Rune Brynhildsen, chief executive of the radio station P4, his company’s broadcasting licence was grabbed by Kanal4 as a result of "dirty tricks". The Progress Party has called for the Storting to investigate Mr Brynhildsen’s allegations. Emotions ran high at P4 after yesterday’s decision by Cultural Affairs Minister Valgerd Svarstad Haugland not to renew P4’s broadcasting licence, but to award it instead to Kanal4. "May she burn in hell," exclaimed programme host Silje Stang, in a furious reference to Ms Svarstad Haugland.
  (Dagsavisen/Saturday)
• A lengthy and expensive university-level education gave them the perfect start to their careers. Then the jobs disappeared. The young and the highly-educated are the new breed of unemployed worker.
  (Dagens Næringsliv/Saturday)
• Sales of new homes is now as slow as during the collective summer break. Since last autumn, the number of new home developments in the south-eastern part of the country has risen sharply, while sales have been cut in half.
  (Aftenposten)

Today’s comment from Aftenposten

We do not believe that anyone in Norway remains unaffected by Tore Tønne’s death. The brutal fact that such a public-spirited man like Tore Tønne could not face living any longer with the suspicion of dishonesty hanging over him is unavoidably a cause for long and hard reflection. The many people who directly or indirectly have allowed themselves to become involved in what, during the course of three short weeks, has become known as the "Tønne case" should also take the time to reflect on events. And that, of course, also applies to us in the media. It is therefore wise of the Norwegian Press Association to give notice at this early stage that it will be looking into the media’s role in the affair. It is not certain that an investigation will conclude that the media coverage of this particular case represents a breach of press ethics. But perhaps it can set out for us a number of important issues at the intersection between the media’s clear duty to uncover improprieties and the consideration that is due to those who become the focus for investigative and critical journalism. We believe that the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime is also taking time out to consider its role. Today Tore Tønne’s fate leaves more questions than answers. Some of those questions will forever remain unanswered. But that is no excuse for not reflecting over what this case tells us and what we have to learn from it. That process, too, will be an important factor in determining how Tore Tønne will be remembered by posterity.

********

The editors of Norway Daily wish their readers all the best for this holiday season. Our next edition will be published on 2 January 2003.