The controversial decision was made at the youth party’s national meeting at the weekend – and has caused strong reactions. Two of the Høyre’s city council representatives in Oslo have announced that they will resign from Unge Høyre after the decision. – Saying that people should no longer be able to apply for asylum in Norway violates our obligations under international law. We are connected to the UN Refugee Commission, so it is illegal, said the Conservative mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindbo, to Kveldsnytt on Saturday. – I have no sense of people suggesting things that are illegal. It simplifies the debate, said Lindboe. Unge Høyre’s leader, Ola Svennesby, says he is completely convinced that the system that the youth party has adopted will ensure that more people receive protection than the current system. Photo: David Skovly / news Ola Svennesby, leader of Unge Høyre, responded to the criticism and said that as party members you should keep the debate at a higher level. – I am sure that mine and Lindboe’s starting point are exactly the same: “How can we, with limited resources, help as many people as possible?”, says Svennesby. What Unge Høyre is proposing is that Norway helps asylum seekers in their immediate areas. And as long as there is a so-called integration lag, Norway will not accept quota refugees from the UN either. During the national meeting of the Young Conservatives on Friday, a new and stricter asylum and refugee policy was adopted. Photo: Tobias Sakrisvold Martinsen / news 110 million on the run In the new state budget for 2024, the government proposes to cut the intake of quota refugees in half. This means that Norway will go from receiving 2,000 people a year to half that. At the same time, according to the UN, there are more people on the run today than ever before. This year alone, a total of 110 million women, men and children around the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes – due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and other serious incidents. – It is their only opportunity to get to a safe place. It is not worthy of Norway not to accept people in need, says Lindboe. Afghan refugees carry their belongings after being deported back from Iran. There are 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees in the world, of which 2.2 million are registered in Iran and Pakistan alone, according to the UN. Photo: Mohsen KARIMI / / AFP But Svennesby believes the parent party is wrong. – It is a matter of time before we gain traction for our policy, not only in the Conservative Party, but in Norway as well. Lindboe says it is good that the debate is taking place internally in the youth party – but that she would rather discuss the integration challenges. – I think that is where we should put our energy now, because there is a lot we can do in terms of getting more people into work. Then refugees become a resource for Norway, says the mayor. She believes the party should be careful about proposing policies that are illegal and become too populist. Published 24.06.2024, at 08.30 Updated 24.06.2024, at 08.33
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