The case in summary The Industrial and Business Party (INP) experienced a support of 3.0 per cent nationally in the 2023 election. The party, which was founded in 2020, is now among the largest in several municipalities and will become a powerful party in two parts of the country. INP has a clear position against wind power, and sets this as an ultimatum in negotiations. The party received particularly good support in Vega in Nordland, Vanylven in Møre and Romsdal, Vinje in Telemark, Kvinnherad in Vestland and Nordreisa in Troms and Finnmark. Party leader Waltherzøe believes that the party’s growth is a symptom that people are tired of high electricity prices. Political commentator at news, Tone Sofie Aglen, believes that INP has hit a nerve with its opposition to high electricity prices, wind turbines and unpopular climate measures. The party is already looking forward to the general election in 2025, where they believe they have great potential. Waltherzøe says he reacted with goosebumps when the numbers started pouring in yesterday. On a national basis, the party received a support of 3.0 per cent. The protest party, which was founded as late as February 2020 in Vemork in Rjukan, is now among the largest in several municipalities, and will become a powerful party in two parts of the country. – Will take the power of the stock exchange A good example of the power INP now has can be found in the industrial town of Porsgrunn. Here, the INP received 10.9 percent of the vote. There, the Conservative Party can get the mayor for the first time since 1936, but is dependent on the INP to get a majority. INP sets as a requirement that not a single wind farm should be set up in Porsgrunn, but in Porsgrunn Høyre there is great disagreement about this very thing. Several of the representatives have said that they want to work for wind power plants in Porsgrunn. – We want to work for issues and not define ourselves in any particular camp. We will try to take the power out of the stock exchange, prevent the development of wind power on Lannerheia, and get property tax reduced, says Waltherzøe. He points out that the government is open to the owner municipalities being able to take the power of the stock exchange and sell it cheaply to their own population and industry. Party leader Waltherzøe says INP will take the power of the stock exchange in his home municipality of Porsgrunn. Photo: Ronald Hole Fossåskaret / news The party went to the election with a clear position against wind power, and they are not celebrating that. – We have an absolute ultimatum against the development of wind power throughout the country. – We are willing to cooperate on cases, and will work for the case itself and not in a block. INP wants the mayoral post In Vega in Nordland, the party got a whopping 28.8 percent of the vote, only beaten by the Labor Party. The party leader says that they will fight for the post of mayor in the municipality. The party also received particularly good support in Vanylven in Møre and Romsdal, where INP became the largest party with 19.1 per cent. Support for the new party was also very good in the municipalities of Vinje in Telemark (16.9), Kvinnherad in Vestland (15.1) and Nordreisa in Troms and Finnmark (14.8). – These are power municipalities, and there are quite a few people now who are fed up with the electricity price crisis that we have experienced, believes the party leader. – It is a symptom that enough is enough. And I am particularly proud that we have managed to get a great many of the sofa voters with us. – Many are reluctant to cooperate Political commentator at news, Tone Sofie Aglen, says INP has obviously hit a nerve. – It is about fear of high electricity prices, opposition to wind turbines and electrification of the continental shelf in combination with the fact that some voters dislike unpopular climate measures. Political commentator at news, Tone Sofie Aglen, says INP is an undescribed magazine, which many are reluctant to cooperate with. Photo: Ole Kaland / Ole Kaland, news She believes that the party has obviously worked well with its own organization and has managed to mobilize many voters in workplaces and on the streets and squares. – The party is a blank slate, and many are reluctant to cooperate with them. It is about them being perceived as a climate-skeptic party. In addition, there are many inexperienced politicians that you do not know where you have them. It is unpredictable. Aglen believes it is worth noting that many list candidates have a background from the trade union movement, and may be redder than many perceive the party. The party takes voters from many parties, but there is no doubt that they have taken many so-called protest voters from Sp and the People’s Party (the former toll party). Looking towards the general election Although the INP is very pleased to have received a support of 3 per cent across the country, the party is already looking two years ahead. Party leader Walterzøe believes the party has further potential. – We have a fantastically good starting point for the general election in 2025, which is our big goal.
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– An ultimatum against wind power throughout the country – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
