Now they are buying time – Ytring

The leadership question in Ap is out of control. Those who have been quietly talking about this for a long time now see it overwhelmingly out in public. Those who believe that it is unheard of for a large and responsible party to oust a sitting prime minister must recognize that there is no way around this process that seems to be underway. Those who want Støre to resign have no control over what Støre thinks. Støre does not seem to have the total overview of his actual confidence in the party, after Monday’s shock news. It seems open how this ends. Now all parties are buying time. Miserable measurements and internal unrest mean that leading Ap politicians are talking about Jonas Gahr Støre having to go. What does he himself say to that? And if so, is Tonje Brenna ready to take over? Motivated Prime Minister Støre says he feels he has confidence. He says he is motivated. It must be understood that he is asking the party to call him and that he wants to continue. He believes that the best thing for the party and the country is for him to continue as party leader and prime minister into next year’s election campaign. At the same time, he seems to recognize that the opposition he now faces is something different than before. It is not just general dissatisfaction directed at him, there is a growing sincere desire to change the party leader. He has to deal with that in a different way than if he has some internal critics. Støre has on previous occasions shown himself to be a power politician and player, but often also as a leader who can miss the timing. Now he has a short time to get an overview and gather support. At the same time, both he and the party probably benefit from a possible change of leadership taking a different track, characterized more by his own direction and perhaps on the other side of the Christmas holidays. The fact that Christmas peace descends on Youngstorget does not automatically mean that Støre will be re-elected in April. He appears straight-laced and composed in Politisk Kvarter when he says these things, but it remains to be seen whether it has the same resonance internally in the party as it has had until now. The lack of open support is a problem for him. The silence in Ap is very telling. Støre has support until suddenly he no longer has it. Everyone who supports him now helps to reduce the crisis atmosphere and noise in the short term, but will they fight for him and secure a re-election in April? It is not necessarily the same. This is what makes the situation unclear. Don’t challenge Tonje Brenna fought against the swarm of microphones in the Storting’s walking hall this morning. Her message to the press is that she will not challenge Støre. The opposite would be startling. An open leadership battle and power duel is the last thing the party needs. Her message must be read as her placing responsibility and initiative in his hands. The fact that she does not want to challenge does not mean that she does not want to take over. She not only buys herself, but also Støre tid. However, she did not contribute to dampening the drama. What kind of dialogue Brenna and Støre have in the back room. We do not know what kind of advice he gets from those closest to him and what kind of situational assessment the current party leadership makes of the situation as a whole. Internally in the party, she says she is ready to take over the day Støre is no longer party leader. Brenna also doesn’t know how much support she has, or whether being against Støre is the same as being for her. The situation is complex in that Støre is both prime minister and party leader. The Prime Minister can be replaced at short notice by the King in Council. A united government must resign, but a new government with a new prime minister and the same party composition can have many similar names. At the same time, changes may occur. The party leader must be chosen by a national party meeting. It takes time to call together, and should preferably be planned by an election committee that is first set up in January. Brenna can take over as prime minister before she takes over as party leader. Støre cannot stay on notice for long. It advocates that the change should wait as long as possible, but no longer than necessary. No quick fix Changing the party leader is not a quick and final solution to Ap’s political and organizational problems. The hope is that it can give a new lease of life. Then Brenna cannot appear as a coup plotter or someone who wants to orchestrate Støre’s departure and profit from it herself. It also does not appear like the actual picture. The unrest in Ap has been simmering for a long time, but it spiraled out of control into massive media pressure on Monday. How this will play out is difficult to predict. Leadership changes in the Labor Party, especially when it involves a change of prime minister, are always era-defining changes in Norwegian political history. The newly purchased time will expire in due course. Just the fact that it’s open-ended how it ends is dramatic in itself. Published 03.12.2024, at 17.57 Updated 03.12.2024, at 18.11



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