Progress Party chairman wants Søviknes back (Dagsavisen)

Before the police have completed their investigation of Terje Søviknes in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl, Carl I. Hagen has already indicated that the ex-deputy chairman could make a rapid come-back to Norwegian politics. "If you ignore this well-publicized and tragic incident, which of course should never have happened, Terje Søviknes was and still is an extremely able and talented politician," says Mr Hagen.

Progress Party consistently anti-EU (Nationen)

The Progress Party is establishing itself as a consistently anti-EU party. Nationen’s February opinion poll on the EU shows that a majority of the population still reject EU membership. 52 per cent of those polled are against membership, 38.9 per cent are in favour and 9.1 per cent don’t know. In today’s poll 52 per cent of Progress Party voters say no to EU membership, while 34 per cent say yes.

Norway’s defence funded by USA and Nato (Aftenposten)

Since 1951Nato has spent NOK 200 billion in today’s kroner to build up Norway’s military infrastructure, in addition to billions in contributions from the USA. The USA also "loaned out" enormous amounts of military materiel – everything from photographs to guns. The current reorganization of Norway’s armed forces is not made any easier now that the country is having to pay its entire defence bill itself.

Judges stand accused (Dagbladet)

According to a report published yesterday by the Centre for Gender Equality and the Commissioner for Children, Norwegian judges are extremely preoccupied with what women were wearing when they were raped, regardless of whether the alleged rapist was found guilty or innocent. The judges themselves acknowledge the need for change. "Basically, the way a woman is dressed should have no relevance for the case," says Mr Justice Erik Elstad, a senior Norwegian judge. In 80 per cent of reported cases of rape, the police decide to drop the case.

Call for better police investigation (Aftenposten)

Director General of Public Prosecutions Tor-Aksel Busch has called for police investigations of alleged rape to be carried out faster and more thoroughly. New instructions which will shortly be circulated to the police and prosecution authorities require police to introduce new investigative routines. To improve the quality of police investigations, students at the National Police Academy will receive more training in the handling of rape cases. This will include both ethical and tactical issues linked to the questioning of suspects.

Debate can prevent rape (Verdens Gang)

All violence against women can be explained by the way men view women, according to Vidar Bjørnstad, deputy chairman of the Storting’s Justice Committee. He believes that Norwegian men must therefore change their views. "Most rape cases involve a man committing violence against a woman. It is therefore men who have the problem, and this is something we must address through a wide-ranging debate on gender equality," says Mr Bjørnstad.

More 40-somethings on welfare (Dagsavisen)

Waiting in line at the country’s social security offices is an increasing number of 40-somethings, while in other age groups the numbers needing welfare assistance are dropping. The most important reason why the "parent generation" needs welfare help more than other groups is the rising cost of housing. The number of people in this age group who contact their local social security office is now 13 per cent higher than 10 years ago.

Worth Noting

• Labour MP Grethe Fossum has made a verbal attack on Swedes in general and in particular on Swedish Environment Minister Kjell Larsson, who has said that Norway must accept a much larger wolf population. "Mr Larsson should calm down. After all, it is we who are ‘feeding’ Sweden’s wolves," she says. (Dagsavisen)

• When Carl I. Hagen decided to get rid of those elements within the party which were most troublesome and irresponsible, he set in motion the worst and most destructive power struggle in the Progress Party’s history. (Dagbladet)

• Finance Minister Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen has decided to exempt mail order packages worth less than NOK 200 from VAT, putting an end to a lengthy debate over the issue. Following the change it will again cost nothing to receive a small package from abroad. (Dagens Næringsliv)

• The Association of Ministers of the Church of Norway, the National Council of the Church of Norway and the Norwegian Association of Local Authorities all wish responsibility for funding the Church of Norway to be taken over by the state. This is in direct conflict with what the Government itself wishes. Today it is the local authorities which provide most of the funds for the Church’s administrative organization. (Vårt Land)

• British Airways has emerged as a possible major shareholder in the troubled Norwegian airline Braathens, whose current largest shareholders, KLM and the Braathens family, may be on their way out. Such a solution may help to keep Braathens on its feet. Yesterday the company announced annual results which showed some improvement, though the losses continue. (Aftenposten)

Today’s comment from Dagbladet

The wolves of Østerdalen are not letting themselves be shot. Following the arrival of Government hunters, they have disappeared into the depths of the forest. After 10 days of pursuit, only one animal has been shot – and questions are now being asked about how much the authorities are prepared to pay to exterminate the wolf population in this area. Predators should be allowed to establish viable populations in forest areas where they will do as little damage as possible to people’s livelihoods. This is obviously not the case in Østerdalen, though many claim that wolves cause the loss of fewer sheep than those which die from other causes while they graze unattended in outlying mountain and forest areas. Since the country has committed itself to honouring certain international conventions on biodiversity, the authorities should allow predators like wolves to establish themselves in areas where there is little sheep farming and plentiful supplies of game. Norway should gradually adapt itself to the idea that we must make a contribution to the existence of predators in our natural environment.