– What I thought at the time was that this was completely fine. That, firstly, it was open, and secondly, completely fine as Minister for Research and Education. I do not have a constitutional responsibility for any of these companies, Borten Moe told the press conference. He continues: – In retrospect and afterwards, it must be fair to say that it was completely wrong. It was a terrible misjudgment for obvious reasons. – I also thought until today that it would be good to clean this up here. Research and Higher Education Minister Ola Borten Moe is stepping down as a minister on Thursday, after admitting a breach of trust. He says that during the day he has changed his mind: – Today has shown that it is not. So that’s why the overall assessment has ended up where he is. – In my opinion, it is clearly not consistent with being a minister in any field in the Norwegian government, and at the same time dealing in shares. This is a recognition that has come to me. Again, that’s my own responsibility. I deeply regret that. Kjelder told news that the minister will be formally in office until August, when a new successor will be appointed. Borten Moe also says that he is resigning as deputy leader of the Center Party, and that he will not stand for re-election in the 2025 parliamentary election. Has spoken to Støre When asked if the Prime Minister has asked him to resign, Borten Moe says that he, together with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, have decided to resign. Borten Moe says that he has been in contact with Jonas Gahr Støre. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB – Together, the Prime Minister, me and my party leader, we came to the conclusion that this was the right conclusion, Borten Moe says. Is the answer yes, he asked you to withdraw? – The answer is that we came to this conclusion together. Borten Moe says that he is still not finished in Norwegian politics. – I am in the situation that I have been elected to the Storting, and unlike all other parliaments in Europe and, as far as the world, it is not possible to get out of the Norwegian Storting for a period of time. – It means that I will do a job for my constituents in Sør-Trøndelag for the next two years, he says. This is the case Borten Moe broke the regulations when he was in January at a government meeting about a billion dollar contract for the ammunition manufacturer Nammo. The week before, he bought shares for over NOK 400,000 in Kongsberg Gruppa. The company is indirectly owned 25% by Nammo. The minister also broke the integrity regulations when he participated in a meeting of the government on 30 March. There the government increased the framework for the contract with Nammo. He also admits other share purchases in recent years, and that these have been a breach of the government’s guidelines. Økokrim says they will investigate the matter. He himself claims not to have had inside information. Vedum supports the decision The leader of the Center Party Trygve Slagsvold Vedum tells news that he supports the decision for Borten Moe: – He has been a capable minister who has taken important steps as Minister of Research and Higher Education. Ola is a knowledgeable politician who has been an important contributor to the government’s work. I have had the great pleasure of working together with him both in the party and in government. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) and Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp) and Ola Borten Moe (Sp) will come out to the palace square after the change of government in 2021. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB The prime minister also thinks it is right that Borten Moe should step down: – Ola Borten Moe has bought individual shares in several companies as a minister. This has led to him breaking rules and guidelines related to competence and prudence. It is very serious, and Ola has acknowledged that, says Jonas Gahr Støre to E24. The competency question is not over Peter Frølich, head of the Storting’s control and constitution committee, believes the resignation is right and necessary: - Due to the seriousness of the case, it was right and necessary to resign. These rules exist to protect trust in political decisions and our democracy. This is the third competence case in a short time. Lars Haltbrekken in SV told news that it was an absolutely necessary decision, but that the issue surrounding the competency issue is too serious for him to be over with Borten Moe’s resignation. – We have to look at how the government and the ministries work with competence at system level, says Haltbrekken.
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Ola Borten Moe resigns as minister – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
