– Ordinary people must take a bow and thank you when the Tax Agency has made its decision. Going further in a discussion now will only reinforce the image that there are different rules for parliamentary representatives than others, says MDG’s Lan Marie Berg to news. Berg, Frp leader Sylvi Listhaug and Rødt’s party leader Bjørnar Moxnes are now issuing a joint message: The Storting must pay what the Tax Agency believes they owe, and put the case to rest. Storting representative for the MDGs, Lan Marie Berg, believes that the Storting’s most important task now is to rebuild trust. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Just over two weeks ago, it became clear from the Norwegian Tax Agency that they believe the Storting has paid too little in employer’s contributions. In addition, the Storting was required to pay additional tax. It is a kind of penalty tax that can be given if missing information has given tax advantages. The Storting can choose to accept the decision or appeal it to the Tax Appeal Board. In that case, the case will receive a new, independent assessment. On Thursday morning, the presidency will discuss how the Storting as an institution should deal with the tax claim. news has been in contact with all the parties in the Storting. Only MDG, Rødt and Frp are clear that the Storting should now accept the demand from the Tax Agency. The other parties have either not responded or do not wish to comment on the matter. Listhaug: – Weakens the Storting’s reputation Frp leader Sylvi Listhaug is tired of talking about the tax demand against the Storting. – I think it is a great pity that we have spent so long on it, because we know that it weakens the Storting’s reputation. And that is why we now want to put the case behind us and move on, she says. FRP leader Sylvi Listhaug is tired of talking about the tax claim against the Storting. Now she is asking the Storting to pay what the Tax Agency believes they owe, and move on. Photo: Ole Berg Rusten / NTB Listhaug is clear and distinct that the Storting must now put the matter to rest. – When the Storting received the advance notice, they responded with sharp criticism of the Tax Agency. Why shouldn’t the case get a new, independent assessment? – Now we have to move on. We have to restore trust in the Storting. This case has been a great burden for the Storting as an institution, she says. Moxnes: – Will appear to be discriminatory treatment Bjørnar Moxnes, party leader in Rødt, is also clear that the Storting must now pay what the Tax Agency believes they owe. – I think no one out there will understand that the Storting will go to war on behalf of those who have unfairly received tax benefits and who each have to settle, he says. Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes asks the president of the Storting to cut through. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB Moxnes emphasizes that trust in elected officials has suffered many cracks in recent years, and points to the commuter housing issues as central. – No one else who gets into trouble with the tax authorities wants a similar institution and weight behind them. It will only emphasize that there is a big difference between elected representatives and the general public, and we should not act like that. The Rødt leader asks Storting President Masud Gharahkhani (Ap) to cut through. – Using the Storting’s power, authority and weight to provide an extra service for politicians who have received tax claims and decisions against them, I hope he also sees that it does not belong anywhere, and that an end should now be put, says Moxnes. Storting president: – A decision we have to make together Storting president Masud Gharahkhani (Ap) will not answer whether he agrees with the positions of Frp, Rødt and MDG. – What is important for me and the presidency is that we have meetings with the parliamentary leaders, he says. Storting President Masud Gharahkhani (Ap) says that the Storting’s formal decision on how to deal with the tax demand from the Tax Agency will probably come within the next week. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB Both Rødt and MDG point out that ordinary people do not have a device behind them when they run into problems with the Tax Administration. – Why is there even a question about whether the Storting should proceed with a complaint? – It is important that we representatives of the Storting should not have any special arrangements. But it is important for me and the presidency to make sure that we have taken these rounds where their views are expressed, before we formally come up with our position. Gharahkhani says that the Storting’s formal decision will probably come within the next week. – On Thursday we have a meeting in the presidency, so then we will get a step further in our work. It is also perhaps natural to have another meeting with the parliamentary leaders, he says.
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