Jagland wishes to continue (Aftenposten)

Thorbjørn Jagland seems inclined to continue for another two years as Labour Party chairman. He announced yesterday that the party leadership issue will probably be clarified at the upcoming meeting of the national executive committee on Monday, at which he expects to describe, together with Jens Stoltenberg, how they envisage the party leadership in the future. As of yesterday, the two party leaders had not agreed on what they would say. If Mr. Jagland announces his candidacy for re-election in terms that do not present it as a joint decision between him and Mr. Stoltenberg, the struggle for supremacy is likely to be taken a notch higher at the expense of order in the ranks, writes Aftenposten’s commentator.

Peace still reigns at the top (Dagsavisen)

The announcement that is expected from the Labour Party’s executive committee on Monday is that Thorbjørn Jagland will stand for re-election as chairman of the Labour Party and Jens Stoltenberg will continue as deputy chairman and prime ministerial candidate. Dagsavisen has been told that Mr. Jagland has been urged by a number of central party leaders to stand firm, and not give up. It is also clear that Mr. Jagland does not have the prime ministership in his sights.

Stoltenberg silent on Jagland’s statement (NTB)

Labour Party chairman Thorbjørn Jagland believes he and Jens Stoltenberg will be able to work out a joint position on the party leadership issue at Monday’s executive committee meeting. Mr. Jagland said in an interview by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation newsroom Tuesday evening that both he and Mr. Stoltenberg will clarify their stand at the meeting on Monday. "I think it would be wise for us to do this so that people will know what issues need discussing and what issues need to be resolved within the party. This is what I feel we should focus on now," he said. Mr. Stoltenberg declined to comment.

Stoltenberg unapprised of Jagland’s plans (Dagbladet)

Labour Party chairman Thorbjørn Jagland has staked the party’s further course, but Jens Stoltenberg, his closest co-worker for several years, is not certain what Mr. Jagland is aiming for. The leadership conflict reached new heights yesterday when he announced that he and Mr. Stoltenberg would clarify their view on the party leadership issue at the executive committee meeting on Monday. "I have no comment to this," said Mr. Stoltenberg when interviewed by Dagbladet yesterday afternoon. This reply indicates that the two have not coordinated their statements and that Mr. Stoltenberg does not know what is on Mr. Jagland’s agenda.

Norway violating international law (Klassekampen)

Norwegian military units are taking part in the US operation on the ground in Afghanistan. This involvement may be in violation of international law. Norway recognizes the new government of Afghanistan, but it can offer no guarantee that the country will not be bombed against the will of its government. "The arguments based on international law are now crumbling," said Socialist Left foreign policy spokesman Bjørn Jacobsen.

Consolidation of municipal sector on Solberg’s wish-list (NTB)

Minister of Local Government and Regional Administration Erna Solberg (Cons.) wishes to reduce the number of municipalities by 100 over a 10 to 15 year period. There are 434 municipalities in Norway at present, which is too many in Ms. Solberg’s view. "I would like to see 100 fewer in the course of the next 10 or 15 years. I think the public sector would gain," she said to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation newsroom.

Norway a free haven for criminals (Dagsavisen)

Tromsø police chief Truls Fyhn believes Norway is becoming an ideal place for foreign criminals and potential terrorists to seek refuge. "The government seems to have lost control over its asylum policy, which is appallingly naïve," he says. Mr. Fyhn is backed by Police Union president Arne Johannessen. "We are told by police in other countries that the word is out in the Eastern European underworld that in Norway it is easy to be a criminal and to keep under cover," says Mr. Johannessen.

DnB BEAT STOREBRAND IN SWEDEN (Aftenposten)

Storebrand did not take kindly to DnB’s advances last year. But DnB group CEO Svein Aaser yesterday had the satisfaction of snapping up the management of Swedish Skandia Fondsforvaltning’s billion-krone money bin right under the nose of Storebrand executive Idar Kreutzer. Mr. Aaser would like to have part of the Government Petroleum Fund put under his care as well, and he believes his chances will improve now that he is among the biggest capital managers in Scandinavia. Further acquisitions are not unlikely, said Mr. Aaser.

Worth noting

• The number of doctorates awarded in Norway has increased by 55 per cent in the past ten years, according to figures from the Norwegian Institute for Studies in Research and Higher Education (NIFU). (NTB)
• Centre deputy party chairman Åslaug Haga feels it is "very unwise" to hold a referendum on whether or not Norway should make a new bid for EU membership. "The suggestion does not seem completely candid," she said. (Nationen)
• Lower taxes, less complexity and greater transparency are the goals the new commission to study taxes is aiming for. (Aftenposten)
• While 210 patients are queued up for organ transplants at the University Hospital, only 65 Norwegians have stated their willingness to donate their heart, lungs, kidneys, liver or pancreas. (Aftenposten)

Today's comment from Dagsavisen

Norway has twice negotiated membership agreements with the European Union, both of which were rejected by the voters. It is therefore not unreasonable for the Storting to want to lay the matter before the people before applying to the EU again. This would save us the trouble of spending millions of kroner on pursuing a goal in Oslo and Brussels, only to have it struck down by the voters.