For around 100 years, Stavanger municipality has paid for floppy hats and suits for the men in the May 17 committee. But the scheme has therefore only covered the men – the women have mostly had to pay for their own outfits. Now the scheme is being criticized in the Stavanger Labor Party’s alternative budget. In the initiative “Modernisation of the 17th of May Committee”, the party emphasizes that it will end the scheme where men, but not women, get sponsored outfits and floppy hats. But the Labor Party no longer has a majority in the city council. The responsibility thus ends up with the current majority consisting of the Conservative Party, FRP, Liberal Party, KrF and the Pensioners’ Party. This means relief in property tax, no to free buses and free school meals, and for now – yes to floppy hats. TRADITION: Floss hat and jacket are an ancient tradition. The picture shows the 17 May committee from 1948 – all the men are dressed in their clothes. Photo: Sverre Strand / Hanna Paulsen / Stavanger City Archives – Bad proposal Hard Olav Bastiansen is a Conservative and former committee member. He knows that there are different opinions within the Conservative Party, but is adamant that the support scheme should be retained. – The Floss hat is a traditional part of the 17 May celebrations, he believes. Every year the committee has gone ahead of the train, and every year the men have been stately dressed in jackets and floppy hats. – This is the 17 May celebration in Stavanger, quite simply, states Bastiansen. He believes that the tradition is worth preserving, and compares the May 17 committee’s party dress with traditions associated with Christmas. TRADITION: Bastiansen himself shows up in a jacket and floppy hat on National Day. Photo: PRIVATE – It’s a bit like starting to remove the traditional things that you associate with Christmas during the Christmas celebration. Then Christmas will be a little less festive, says Bastiansen. He further emphasizes that the clothing budget is not the municipality’s biggest expenditure. Outdated tradition Group leader Dag Mossige in Stavanger Arbeiderparti goes hard and calls this arrangement outdated. – We think that jackets and floppy hats paid for by taxpayers do not belong in 2023, says Mossige. MATTER OF PRINCIPLE: Dag Mossige is strongly opposed to the support scheme. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news He says that the May 17 committee spends several tens of thousands on the men’s members’ clothing for each committee period of four years. He agrees with Bastiansen that it is not the largest sum, but disagrees on principle. – Times are tight now, and it is symbolically important to show moderation, says Mossige. The mayor reacts – If they believe that it is not taxpayers’ money, then they had four years to deal with it, says mayor Sissel Knutsen Hegdal (H). Despite a slightly sharp tongue, Hegdal is not particularly enthusiastic about the scheme itself. – I am very keen that we keep expenses down and then we also have to keep expenses down for clothing for the politicians, she explains. The mayor states that NOK 28,000 was spent on the men’s clothing in the previous committee period. RESOLUTION: Mayor Sissel Knutsen Hegdal believes that the scheme must be able to be done in a more affordable way. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news In addition, two female committee members are said to have received NOK 4,000 each to buy outfits in recent periods. – I think that the municipality should be able to have some floss hats if there is one – which can be used time and time again, concludes Hegdal. New committee leader, new arrangement Line Møllerop is a member of the Conservative Party and the 17 May committee’s new leader. She agrees with the Labor Party and their proposal. CHOICE: Line Møllerop does not want to continue the scheme for the next 17 May committee. Photo: Right – I am not a supporter of this support scheme either. We can rather use those funds for other things, explains Møllerop. The committee chairman intends to propose that the scheme be removed at the first meeting with the committee. – I did not know that this was a tradition until I became leader, but I think that the clothing budget in particular can be covered by the members themselves.
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Flosshat cut in Stavanger creates political discord – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
