– Good opinion polls are much more fun than bad ones. Right-wing leader Erna Solberg speed-mingles in Pollen in Arendal. Exchanging handshakes. Taking selfies with the audience. No one can say no. – The voters give their verdict. It is not my job to explain why, says the leader of the Conservative Party. Her popularity has gone the same way as the prices of food and fuel. Straight to heaven. At the same time, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s fan base is shrinking faster than water reservoirs in southern Norway. Turned upside down Solberg is now far more popular than Prime Minister Støre. This is revealed in a new opinion poll conducted by Norstat for news this August. The survey was taken from 9 to 14 August. 960 people were asked. To the question “who do you think is best suited to be prime minister in Norway?” answers 49 percent Erna Solberg. 31 per cent of those questioned believe Labor Party leader Jonas Gahr Støre is best suited. The picture has been turned upside down in the scant year that has passed since the election. After eight years with Solberg at the helm – in October last year – 49 per cent answered that they wanted Støre. 36 percent wanted Solberg. – Tough numbers Støre started on Thursday at Stinta school in Arendal. After six-year-olds had disappeared until their first day of school, the Ap leader answered for the numbers after his first year. – These are tough numbers. But I explain this with the heavy crises we are facing now. And there are crises that hit people. We see it in the opinion polls, says Støre. SCHOOL VISIT: – We are used to receiving opinion polls that go up and down, says Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap), who on Thursday attended the start of school together with principal Reidun Pihlmann. Photo: KRISTIN OLSEN / news He says that “we have to live with that, and it motivates us to continue our work every day”. – How are you going to convince voters again? – I have faith in the policy we are pursuing, with great support for electricity bills and a more secure power supply. Those are the big issues in the debate now. Then it’s about being out and meeting people. Støre does not agree that a drop in confidence leads to a drop in motivation for the new autumn as head of government. Light blue in the tailwind Not only food and fuel have become more expensive since last autumn. The cost of being prime minister probably also increased. In any case, trust in Støre – according to the surveys – has fallen steadily over the past year, as the political debate has been characterized by the electricity price crisis, expensive times and war in Europe. For Solberg, many August numbers are pleasant summer reading. When almost half of the voters prefer to see her in the prime minister’s job again, it is a clear personal record after the election. The high level of trust in Solberg comes at the same time that the Conservative Party is doing very well in the opinion polls. WOMEN IN BLUE: Erna Solberg (H) strikes up a conversation with former Frp leader Siv Jensen, who now leads the organization Flyte. Photo: MATS RØNNING / news August downturn for Ap Støre’s slide in popularity comes together with leaden figures from new party polls. The Labor Party is for the first time below 20 percent in support, and has no reason to be excited together with government partner the Center Party, which is down in the 5ths. The Conservative Party – with over 30 per cent – actually has greater support than both government parties combined. – Støre said that now it is the people’s turn, as it were. But he forgot to say something, and that is that we have to pay, says André Jakobsen. He doesn’t have much confidence in Støre anymore, and in particular highlights the price of electricity and fuel as important reasons. – It happens like that every time. We think that the person who sat last time might have been better. It’s a bit difficult now, the world is a bit strange, says Ingvild Arnebø. She thinks Støre has been prime minister during a difficult period. Øyvind Brekkhus Sandåker says he has confidence in the prime minister on some things, but that he has never voted Ap. – Now I wonder if the “fog prince Støre” could be on his way back again. He should be a bit more specific, then it might help. – It’s a real shame, this. But it is natural from the situation with electricity, war in Ukraine and food prices, says Ap veteran in former Aust-Agder Nils Johannes Nilsen. He understands that many voters are despairing. – Incumbent governments often become unpopular. They must take responsibility for everything, says Isak Elstad Røsnes (th). Aksel Vestervik has confidence that Prime Minister Støre is doing his job and that he is the best person for the job right now. – Støre could probably be clearer about what he stands for. Then we would have felt a little safer. I understand that people become a little unsure, says Linda Irene Carlsen – and adds that she herself is among them.
ttn-69