In his New Year’s speech, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) promised that most people would get better advice. Now he says that the turning point has come in the Norwegian economy. Who do people think will get better advice, asked Fredrik Solvang at the entrance to the debate. – I want to raise my hand on that too, said Støre, who got quite lonely last year when he did the same on the question of whether Norway is on track to reach the climate target. This time he was joined by finance minister and SP leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum and Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg. The others were far more hesitant in their optimism. Rødt leader Marie Sneve Martinussen pointed out that the government has said that before. – It is perhaps not so strange, because if the weather forecast is on every single day in the summer and promises sunshine and 30 degrees, and then there is torrential rain, then in the end you don’t believe it, said Martinussen. Think immigration explains increased crime When asked who believes that immigration is behind the increase in crime, four of the party leaders raise their hands. Sylvi Listhaug (Frp) was one of those who raised her hand. – We know that we have a challenge to integrate some of those who come from the Middle East and Africa. Many are doing well, but many are not doing well either, she said. Interest rates and expensive times Earlier today, it became clear that Norges Bank is keeping interest rates unchanged, the Norwegian krone is weak and prices are rising. In addition, many young people are completely out of work or education. The party leaders fight for the floor during the debate. Photo: William Jobling / news Conservative leader Erna Solberg said she hopes the prime minister is right, but she is not sure that most people will get better advice. FRP leader Sylvi Listhaug went even further. – You have stood here for three years and promised that people would get better, while what has happened is that people have had reduced financial freedom of action, she said. KrF deputy leader Dag Inge Ulstein followed up: – One in ten parents say that they experienced having to go to bed hungry because they had no money for food. There are actually 43 per cent more people who have received worse advice this year, he said. Sp leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum admitted that there have been tough rainy days. and that many have found it difficult. – But instead of increasing the nursery prices, we have reduced the nursery prices. Instead of increasing the prices of after-school care, after-school care has become free in the core period, he said. Bergstø: Women of difference! Kirsti Bergstø, who heads the government’s permanent budget partner SV, highlighted all the successes the party has achieved and maintained that they have contributed to reduced differences, more for students and more for families with children. – What we know that the “women of difference” on the other side want is to give more tax cuts to the very richest and welfare cuts to ordinary people, said Bergstø, referring to Solberg, Listhaug and perhaps also Venstre leader Guri Melby. Melby, for her part, singled out the weak krona and said she is concerned that the government is not willing to discuss measures to strengthen it. The Liberals have opened up about tying the krona to the euro, but are quite alone on this in the Storting. For his part, MDG leader Arild Hermstad pointed out that many are primarily calling for an increased quality of life, not necessarily more money. – It is a difficult promise to make when the Norwegian level of consumption requires four globes. We still only have one globe, said Hermstad. – Norwegian conditions Increasing youth crime was the second major topic, alongside personal finances, during the party leader debate. And as expected, Sylvi Listhaug didn’t hold back when she got the floor first. – The Progress Party has warned against Swedish conditions. Now we have Norwegian conditions, said Listhaug and followed up: – We have a government that is trying to put out a large fire with a water gun. Instead of now protecting the victims, the young people who are exposed to these criminals, you set up a committee that will work for months, said Listhaug with reference to the Storberget committee that arrived this week. The FRP has proposed lowering the criminal minimum age to 14, which the government and the other parties oppose. Rødt leader Marie Sneve Martinussen put it this way: – What you are doing then is that you are sending young children who are simply not cognitively developed yet, into prisons with hardened, habitual criminals. It’s a kind of Arendal week for criminals, where you learn about crime. You get influencers who tell you about cool watches and cool cars, said Martinussen. Royal duel As usual, news’s party leader debates feature duels between two of the party leaders. They did not know the topic and opponent in advance. First up was Rødt and KrF in a debate about the future of the monarchy. – It is unfashionable to have a monarchy, said Marie Sneve Martinussen, who added that Rødt is fundamentally opposed to power and positions being inherited. – We are unbelievably lucky to have a royal house that has stood up for the country and the people in situations where we have needed it, replied Ulstein in KrF. The second duel was between the Conservative Party and Labor Party over the recognition of Palestine. The prime minister defended the Norwegian line that ended in a historic recognition earlier this year, which made Israel see red. Right-wing leader Erna Solberg, for her part, maintained what the party has said before, namely that the government chose the wrong time to recognize Palestine. – We cannot become a hostage who says we can do it, the day Israel agrees to a peace with the Palestinians, Støre replied. Otherwise, Bergstø and Hermstad met for a duel over the difference between SV and MDG, while Vedum from SP and Melby from Venstre clashed over drug policy. Violence and threats in school became the theme of the duel between Sylvi Listhaug and Jonas Gahr Støre. KrF substitute: – The demanding party leader debate in Arendal marks the start of the long election campaign until next year’s general election. Olaug Bollestad’s illness notice means that KrF deputy leader Dag Inge Ulstein stands in as a substitute, otherwise all nine parties in the Storting, with the exception of Patient Focus, are represented by their party leader. – It is a demanding situation for the party when the party leader is on sick leave, said Ulstein when presenter Solvang asked him why it was him and not Bollestad who appeared in the debate. The increase in the number of sick and disabled people was also a topic in the debate, not least linked to the challenges in the major perspective report that the government presented last week. Where MDG leader Arild Hermstad advocated a working time reform and was left quite alone, Venstre’s Guri Melby played a political solo when she again called for changes to the sick pay scheme. – I feel that this is the big elephant in the room, Melby said and continued: – I don’t think Norwegians have that much worse health than Swedes. If we cannot discuss the sick pay scheme, then we are doing everyone who is sick a disservice. The politicians are debating this tonight: Private finances, krone exchange rate and unemployment Although unemployment is low, the krone is weak and interest rates have risen. In the first part of the debate, the party leaders will answer how they want to improve Norwegians’ economy and what needs to be done to strengthen the Norwegian krone. Increased need for workers in health and care in the coming years and high levels of sickness absence are also central. Youth crime and integration In the second part, the party leaders debate what measures are needed to reduce youth crime, which has increased in Norway in recent years. In Oslo, 77 percent of all young criminal repeat offenders in Oslo have an immigrant background, according to police figures. What role integration and immigration play is a central question. Published 15.08.2024, at 20.15 Updated 15.08.2024, at 23.03
ttn-69
– Promises sun, gets torrential rain – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
