Orderud murder trial (All newspapers)

None of the accused in the Orderud murder trial pled guilty when proceedings opened yesterday. According to public prosecutor Jørn S. Marud, the conflict between father and son over control of the Orderud farm is crucial to solving the murder. While Per Kristian Orderud’s defence counsel, Cato Schiøtz, maintained that the reason for the murders lies far from the battle for control of the farm, and that Anne Orderud Paust was the intended victim. In collaboration with Frode Sulland, Veronica Orderud’s defence counsel, Mr Schiøtz had started his own private investigation. If Per Kristian and Veronica Orderud’s lawyers are to succeed with this line of argument, they will have to destroy the credibility of co-defendants Kristin Kirkemo Haukeland and Lars Grønnerød.

Christian Democrats tone down extravagant election pledges (Dagens Næringsliv)

The Christian Democrat leadership is planning to tone down some of the party programme’s more extravagant election pledges. Even the proposal to increase foreign aid has been cut back to make the party appear more responsible. According to deputy chairman, Einar Steensnæs, who has presided over the work of the party’s programme committee, the point of promising less is to ensure that more of the party’s promises actually get implemented. However, demands for additional expensive election pledges are expected at the forthcoming annual conference.

Jagland faces protests from fellow Labour Party members (Dagsavisen)

A number of Labour Party and trade union members have called for Foreign Minister Thorbjørn Jagland to change Norway’s line on the Middle East conflict, and the rebels have gained the support of the party’s executive committee. They want responsibility for the violence to be placed at Israel’s door. However, Mr Jagland remains unmoved. "What they are saying does not make sense. They need to know a good deal more about what they are talking about, instead of sitting around at home getting all steamed up," says Mr Jagland.

Consultants queue up to investigate the Immigration Directorate (Aftenposten)

28 consultancy firms have expressed their interest in investigating the crisis-hit Immigration Directorate (UDI). The deadline for tenders expires on Tuesday. Time is short. The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry wants a full report by 1 August at the latest. The investigation follows two years in which visa fraud, internal foot-dragging and clashes between the various departments have filled the headlines.

New Norwegian embassy in Cuba (Klassekampen)

On 15 June Norway opens its embassy in Havana, Cuba. Norway has not had a permanent diplomatic mission in Cuba since the Storting voted to close down the embassy in 1966. "The time is also more than ripe for the USA to reassess its policy with regard to Cuba," says Einar Steensnæs (Christian Democrat), chairman of the Storting’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

Asking for a rise in interest rates (Verdens Gang)

Olav Magnussen of the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) takes demands from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) for a wage rise of at least five per cent next year with a large pinch of salt. He says that with such a demand the LO would be simply asking for even higher interest rates. "Yes, those kinds of demands are an invitation to higher interest rates, which would definitely not be in the interests of the LO’s members. Wage rises among our trading partners are now just under four per cent. All sides, including the LO, have previously agreed on the need for Norwegian wage rises to come down to the same level as our trading partners," says Mr Magnussen.

May lose billions (Dagbladet)

Low share prices, crushing debt, impatient shareholders and an aggressive Kjell Inge Røkke are all making life difficult for Kværner’s chief executive, Kjell Almskog. And on top of all that, he will have to spend large amounts of money on expensive lawyers in several countries in the months ahead. If he loses on all fronts, Kværner will have to pay out over NOK 1.7 billion, which could make the dismal development in Kværner’s share price even more depressing.

Christian Democrat deputy chairman supports disestablishment of the Church (Vårt Land)

Opposition to the establishment of the Church of Norway is growing among Christian Democrat supporters. This issue could become one of the hottest issues at this weekend’s annual conference. Deputy chairman Odd Anders With is the first of the party’s leadership to publicly support the disestablishment of the Church. While the party’s attitude up to now has been to wait for the recommendations of the Church of Norway’s Bakke Commission, Mr With is not prepared to put the matter off any longer. "I have become more critical and would like to see a change in the current status of the Church. But there is a lot to be said for the separation process being handled cleanly, and in a way that ensures the Church itself has both hands on the steering wheel," says Mr With.

Norway is freeeezing (Verdens Gang)

Statistics from the Meteorological Institute’s climate department show clearly that the month of April has been colder than normal in around 150 places throughout the country. And the mountains of south eastern Norway are still in the grip of winter, with plenty of fresh snow around. This is already causing people to anticipate the possibility of major flooding when the thaw comes later in the spring, but that will depend on a lot of different factors.

Worth Noting

• Those who would prefer to see Kjell Magne Bondevik become prime minister in a Christian Democrat/Conservative government are unlikely to try and change the party’s strategy. They know they may get what they want anyway. If the Centre Party loses its pivotal position after the election, Mr Bondevik will be able to implement plan B, a centre/right coalition with himself as prime minister. (Aftenposten)
• Kværner’s employees are highly critical of chief executive Kjell Almskog’s NOK 12.8 million salary last year. Mr Almskog’s bonus payout was close to the maximum available. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• Fewer people will have to pay the high income surtax. There will be no change in sick pay benefits. The tax deduction for union dues will be raised from NOK 900 to NOK 1,800. These are among the main election pledges presented by the Labour Party and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) yesterday. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• Only six per cent of consumers buy organic foods. Organic products will not gain in popularity unless the reputation of conventional agricultural methods is weakened, according to some experts. (Nationen)

Today’s comment from Dagens Næringsliv

There is much to indicate that Kjell Magne Bondevik will be Norway’s next prime minister. But there are few signs that Mr Bondevik will be leading the cabinet he himself would prefer – a centre alliance government composed of the Centre Party, Christian Democrats and Liberals. Neither the Christian Democratic Party nor the Norwegian democratic system have anything to gain by sweeping this obvious fact under the carpet when Mr Bondevik’s party opens its annual conference today. There is still a spring and summer to go before the election. The Labour Party has reclaimed some of its lost support following its all-time-low last autumn. But the opinion polls indicate that there is a considerable chance that, for the first time in 70 years, the Storting will have a centre-right majority even without the Centre Party. If this happens, a change of government would not only be democratically right but would also be a parliamentary necessity. But it is neither natural nor probable that the new government should be made up of the three centre alliance parties.