It has been fascinating to follow the hard fronts in the autumn’s tax debate. Business and government seem to be in a rare state of disarray. That there is discussion about tax and business conditions is nothing new. It is also nothing new that the business world puts on a little extra strong rhetoric for dramatic effect. In this way, greater attention is ensured from both the press and politicians. Poison and demons This is also not an unknown move for politicians in both position and opposition. What is new is the irreconcilable tone and the use of words. As a business journalist for 20 years, I can say that words like poison, profiteers and demonization are unusual. The cold front set in in earnest when the government put forward a proposal for a ground rent tax on aquaculture and wind power. It was not just the tax proposal itself that made NHO, which represents business, react. No, it was also the use of words, the tone of voice and what lay between the lines. Who can we take? Because when Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stood on the podium at Blaafarveværket on a Wednesday late in September and said: “In many cases, many have received more and they must contribute more to the splicing team”, NHO heard: “Who can we take?”. And when Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum said at the same press conference: “These are very profitable companies, and the five largest will have to contribute a little more to the joint venture because they get to use common land”, NHO heard: “Now you’re going to be skinned”. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB NHO also believes it has been cheated out of a proper process. They believe that the proposal came “completely out of the blue”, despite the fact that the previous government had investigated a proposal for land rent tax on aquaculture a few years earlier. The proposal was admittedly shelved, but the critics believe that the industry should have realized that it could come. After all, it was still there, the drawer was not locked. In other words, business and the government have a very different perception of reality. It might be a good idea to probe a little. You can understand both sides of the discussion. On the one hand, of course, no one should dictate their own taxes. On the other hand, there is a long tradition of anchoring in this country – and then it might be a good idea to try to involve those affected a little in advance. Then you have to agree to disagree, but at least you have been heard. NHO chief Ole Erik Almlid Photo: Ksenia Novikova / news And they can’t quite break the spiral. NHO CEO Ole Erik Almlid continued much of his strong rhetoric this week by saying that unpredictability is like poison for Norwegian business, as a sort of kick-off to NHO’s annual conference this week: “What we saw in 2022 was too much unpredictability, especially around tax introductions which came completely out of the blue. It has scared a lot of people, and it has slowed business down. We often say that unpredictability is built into the business world,” said Almlid to news. Conciliatory Vestre There is little doubt that Almlid is frustrated on behalf of business. And he is also heard by Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre in the news program “Political Quarter” on Wednesday morning, who offered a conciliatory tone: “We should talk nicer about each other in Norway. It is not profiteers, barons or baronesses who create jobs. But entrepreneurs and job creators”, he said, and followed up with: “We should be grateful for the work they do. But you must also be honest and say that those who have done very well can contribute more to the community.” Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre Photo: Tale Hauso / news That Industry Minister Vestre is conciliatory in tone surprises no one. Because he is just that, the minister for business. He is dependent on a good dialogue, and he must make arrangements for the companies to both thrive and make money. Business contributes large sums in tax, and employs a large part of the population. Easy to point out the scapegoat Now it might be a good idea to get the rest of the government on board. Being unfriended by the business world when the economy is doing so badly is perhaps not something that gives Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre sleepless nights. It can suddenly get worse if the temperature in the economy drops, companies downsize and people lose their jobs. It is far from an unthinkable scenario. It is not difficult to predict who the companies will point out as a scapegoat then. It will look bad on a Labour-led government.
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Guess who gets blamed when people lose their jobs – Speech
