In today’s edition of “Helgemorgen”, the leader appeared in Rødt to talk about their defense policy. What do you think, should Norway send weapons to Ukraine: – It is perhaps the case in the Labor Party that the party leader first says what the party will decide and then the grassroots can discuss afterwards. With us, it is the other way around. Now we’ll let that debate go and I’ll follow along with interest. Moxnes continued the interview without wanting to answer what he himself thinks, at the same time as he repeated that: – Red is not and has never been a pacifist party. We are a party that is against imperialism and I think that is very important for many of those who vote for us. There has also never been any conflict or disagreement about support for Ukraine within the party. Nor was he further impressed by how the debate about the party has developed in recent days. – Red has been described as a bit of an idiot by a number of commentators and by people who don’t like us in the press. Will push it in the direction he wants Mari Skurdal, editor in the class battle, has followed the case closely in recent days. – For the management’s part, and for Moxnes, if you join a side that ends up losing, it would be a prestige defeat for him. What I’m guessing he’s doing is looking at the debate a bit and gently nudging it in the direction he wants. Mari Skurdal, editor in Klassekampen. Photo: Siv Dolmen / Klassekampen She adds that the party was ready for the discussion. – I simply think that the last few days have been unbearable for a number of Rødt members. Where some party members go to peace demonstrations that Ukrainians in Norway are against, and that they want a ceasefire at a time when Ukraine could lose large areas of land. So there has been a desire to reverse this, so that it is undoubted that Red supports a national liberation struggle. Probably will change the party line Martine Aurdal, commentator in Dagbladet, also followed today’s session with Bjørnar Moxnes. She thinks Rødt will change her position at the upcoming national meeting. – Now we know that there is a majority in the party leadership and in the parliamentary group to send weapons to Ukraine, and I think that will most likely be the result for the party. Martine Aurdal, commentator in Dagbladet. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news Moxnes earlier this week rejected interview requests from news and then referred to a post he posted on Facebook. In the post, he acknowledges that there are different views on weapons within the party and that he is happy about the debate. – At the same time, I have not wanted to preempt the debate that is currently taking place in the party. Some may think it is strange, but I have thought it is right for the sake of party democracy. Debate within the party There was a heated debate on Tuesday evening between two members of the Red party. Central board member Joakim Møllersen has in recent weeks called for a halt to arms deliveries to Ukraine. – I believe that NATO opposes negotiations. Most people say that the war will end at the negotiating table and then we must get to the negotiating table as quickly as possible, said Møllersen. Afterwards, Norway’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt came out hard against Rødt’s defense policy. – That policy simply cannot stand the light of day. I am not impressed, said Huitfeldt during a debate on Dagsnytt 18 on Wednesday evening. Red must now come to terms with its entire defense policy, she believes. – Rødt’s defense policy serves Putin’s interests, because it contributes to dividing Europe, she says. Several in Rødt have changed their minds During Wednesday, a number of Rødt leaders and prominent party members have changed their minds on the issue of Norwegian arms assistance to Ukraine. A total of 11 of Rødt’s 18 central board members say yes to arms support, shows a review made by Klassekampen. Norway’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt believes this is far, far overtime. – It probably took the other parties in the Storting a day. We looked around, and Sweden and Denmark also changed their views. Rødt can be happy that we didn’t listen to them, she says. One of those who has changed his position is Mímir Kristjánsson. He told news earlier this week that: – Russia is waging an imperialist war of aggression in Ukraine. Ukraine needs to defend itself, and they need weapons to defend themselves. If there is to be an end to this war that ends in peace and not occupation of Ukraine, then the Ukrainians’ resistance struggle is bound to succeed. And Putin needs to get a nose piercing, says Kristjánsson to news. Photo: Red
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