Just before the last party leadership debate of the election campaign, which starts at 20.05 this evening, Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg gives a clear message to the voters: The time for costly welfare reforms that affect all citizens is over. – The most important welfare reform must be to help those who actually need it most in our society. But this with broad free services for everyone is much more difficult. Simply because it does not help those who need it most, says Solberg. Erna Solberg warmed up for tonight’s party leader debate with a visit to the home of Nils Hoem Hegre and his family. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news She has invited news to the home of married couple Nils and Ninette Hoem Hegre, who are looking for a daycare place for their 19-year-old son Bror Filip. – Our society must be measured by whether we are able to help those who need it the most. There are still groups in our society, such as families with disabled children, who need a better and tighter arrangement, says Solberg. – Smøre tynt Solberg believes it is a paradox that the married couple in Stavanger do not get a day center offer when the municipality has set aside NOK 200 million for a free public transport service in the same budget. – What is the problem with voting for free after-school, free bus or free dental care? – If we spread the word thinly, then there will be little left for those who need it most. That is why we are concerned with targeting the offers rather than spending large sums of money on groups that can actually pay a little for the measures themselves. There will be little left if we spread the word thinly to everyone, says the Conservative leader. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news – But you lead a party that has proposed increasing child benefit for everyone? – Yes, and we have done that to increase the family income of all families. – But that’s exactly what you’re now asking people not to do, right? – No, in other words, increasing the child benefit now, with the difficult family finances that have been, we have thought was right. But we have not said that in future it will be the most important means of action. – Erna can’t afford SV leader Kirsti Bergstø snorts at Erna Solberg’s analysis. And denies that there is no money for major welfare improvements. – There is room if we redistribute financially. But I understand that Erna Solberg cannot afford it. Because the Conservatives want to cut taxes for the richest and remove the tax on expensive properties. And then you cannot afford to strengthen welfare. SV leader Kirsti Bergstø believes that it is only the Conservative Party that does not have the money to expand with new welfare reforms. Photo: Mats Rønning / news Bergstø says SV will expand the scheme with free after-school care and continue to ensure cheaper dental health for more groups. – Our aim is that it should not cost more for people to go to the dentist than to the doctor. A smile should have no class distinction. – But this will cost money. Where are you going to finance this? – Through redistribution. Because those at the top have the opportunity to contribute a little more. – But the time for major tax changes is over for a while, say both Vedum and Støre? – Those are their promises, not mine. My promise is that the time for major welfare reforms is not over, says Bergstø. Hoping for a change In Stavanger, Ninette Hoem Hegre, who herself is a faithful KrF voter, hopes for a political change on Monday. – When I saw that the Labor Party had strengthened in the poll today, it sank in me. If we don’t get a shift, then Bror Filip won’t get a daycare place, she says. Ninette Hoem Hegre Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Her husband Nils Alexander explains why it is so important for the social 19-year-old to have an activity offer, in addition to the home that he shares with other children and young people with disabilities. – He needs an activity offer to be able to change the living room, he says. – He needs to meet his peers and cannot sit alone with adult employees all day, says his wife Ninette. The 19-year-old who graduated from secondary school this spring has not been offered a day care centre, which the family would have liked to see him get. Nils Alexander Hoem Hegre in front of a childhood photo of his son Bror Filip. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Høyre’s mayoral candidate Sissel Knutsen Hegdal believes this is due to priorities in the budget and points to the fact that there was no money for the purpose in the updated financial plan that was presented before the summer. Labor mayor Kari Nessa Nordtun says the number of people who need help and services has increased in recent years, but denies that the lack of services is due to money. – Everyone must have a place. This is not about money, but about available premises. Premises have already been acquired and more are on the way, she says. Here is Brother Filip with father Nils Alexander Hoem Hegre to vote for the first time, on the same day as the last party leader debate in the election. Photo: Private – Has more than SV Right-wing leader Erna Solberg believes her policy will provide more money to move forward with than SV and Kirsti Bergstø’s. – This is about what income we will have going forward, whether we will ensure a viable business life. It is very easy to stand and say that we should tax more. But if that means fewer jobs, less business, less tax revenue, then it’s me who gets more for welfare and Kirsti Bergstø who gets less, she says.’ Kirsti Bergstø will prioritize free after-school and free dental health services for several groups in future budgets. Photo: Mats Rønning / news But where Solberg believes that the taxes that the government has introduced result in lower investments, less competitiveness and less welfare, Bergstø believes that the tax measures have just been able to finance new and important welfare services for most people. – And that is also the reason why we experienced major welfare cuts during Erna Solberg’s reign. Big, antisocial cuts that affected families with children, the sick, and that weakened people’s security, says Bergstø.
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Free promises hit the weakest – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
