Tonje Brenna got the job as minister of knowledge in October 2021, as part of Støre’s Labor Party/Sp government. As a new minister, Brenna met in the ministerial council – as all new ministers do. Here she presented difficult cases and friendships. – I said that we had to keep an eye on Frode Elgesem. And I said that I survived the 22 July terror, says Brenna to VG on Tuesday. – We are good friends, and have a very special relationship because of 22 July. We have had dinners together, he held a quiz at my bachelor party and he was a guest at my wedding, Brenna tells the newspaper. – I have dealt with competence too late and too poorly. It has led to me making several mistakes and I apologize for that, says Brenna on Tuesday. It was VG who mentioned the case first. To news, Elgesem says that he has not been part of the competence assessment and that this has been up to the minister himself and the ministry. When asked what he now thinks about his future as a board member in the position he now holds in the Wergelandstifetelsen, he says: – I expect the appointment to be invalid. Even took up friendship without following up Kunnskapsminoiteren says she now wants to clean things up. – The king in the cabinet will today appoint a deputy minister for me in all matters related to Utøya AS and Frode Elgesem, she continues. According to Brenna, she herself took up her friendship with Elgesem early in her term as a minister. – But I have not followed this up well enough. I have handled the issue too badly and too late. Brenna confirms that she is close friends with three board members of Stiftelsen Utøya AS. – How could this happen? – Obviously should have assessed my competence earlier. I now want to be open about the mistakes I have made. Brenna tells news that Elgesem himself raised the issue of competence already in March. – Has made several mistakes Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) confirms this to the newspaper: – Tonje has made several mistakes related to integrity. It is serious, and she has regretted it. Støre says he still has confidence in his minister. – I have had a thorough conversation with Tonje about this matter. I believe in what she says, and have confidence in her as a minister and deputy leader of the Labor Party. Brenna herself tells VG that she has made a serious mistake. – I have made a serious mistake related to my competence. I have assessed my competence too poorly and too late, she says. A press conference has been announced at 10:00 a.m. where the Minister for Knowledge will explain the situation. Became known during the 22 July trial Elgesem was AUF’s assistant lawyer during the 22 July trial and the close friendship must have already started then. On 2 May this year, she appointed Elgesem to the job of board member of the Wergeland Centre, a foundation the Ministry of Education gives NOK 5 million a year, according to VG.
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Tonje Brenna gave directorship to good friend – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
