There is complete upheaval in the government after the Prime Minister last week presented new and stricter rules for top politicians’ share purchases. – We have asked everyone in political leadership in the ministries and at SMK to inform the ministerial council in their own ministry whether they themselves have shares and, if so, in which companies, as well as whether they choose to sell, freeze or manage, says State Secretary Kristine Kallset at the Prime Minister’s Office (SMK) to news. The Council of Ministers is the highest administrative officer in the ministries. At the same time, SMK informs news that they now refuse ministers, state secretaries and political advisers to sell any shares before budget day on 6 October. – Until the state budget is presented, they can neither sell nor buy shares due to the government’s ongoing budget work. This means that those who choose to sell the shares must wait until after the budget presentation, says Kallset. Facts about new share rules The handbook for political management was updated on Wednesday 30 August: *New point 4.4: “Rules and routines regarding the processing of inside information”, is a concise description of what these rules apply to, as well as the most important prohibitions and orders that follow from the regulations . *New point 4.5: “Guidelines for ownership, purchase and sale of shares and other financial instruments”, has been rewritten and significantly expanded. The politician can 1) sell his shares/financial instruments, 2) consent to a freezing of the shares/financial instruments or 3) entrust the management to an independent third party (manager). *In addition, this point has been expanded and clarified: In relation to a spouse or other persons with whom one lives in a marriage-like relationship, the person holding political office will have a duty to acquire actual knowledge of the person’s ownership interests, which could possibly lead to disqualification for the politician. (Source: Prime Minister’s office) Survey news has asked all ministries to answer whether anyone in political leadership – or their partners – has invested in shares. – Politicians have a duty to have an overview of what their spouse/partner owns, says Kallset, who emphasizes that this is “information about the finances of private individuals”. – Therefore, political leadership should not send any overview of this to their own ministry or SMK, says Kallset. KARTLEGGER: State Secretary Kristine Kallset (Ap) at the Prime Minister’s office says everyone in political leadership in the government must freeze their shares until the state budget is presented. Photo: Ingrid Tinmannsvik / Ingrid Tinmannsvik But if someone is in doubt as to whether the partner’s ownership makes them incompetent, they should contact their own ministry and possibly ask the Law Department in the Ministry of Justice to carry out a formal competency assessment, she adds. Among the ministries which are in the process of obtaining information about the financial dispositions of political leadership and their household, is the Ministry of Defence. – Our political leadership has been asked to inform the ministerial council if they have shares and, if so, in which company, and whether they choose to sell, freeze or manage. They have also been asked to acquire knowledge about their spouse’s/partner’s ownership so that they are able to assess their competence themselves, says special adviser Birgitte Frisch. Facts about the integrity cases in the government Education Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) admitted on 20 June to having broken the government’s integrity rules by appointing a friend to a board position in the Wergeland Centre, a foundation which is largely financed by the Ministry of Education. Culture and Equality Minister Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap) resigned from Støre’s government on 23 June after admitting to having broken the rules of competence by appointing friends to important positions. Minister for Research and Higher Education Ola Borten Moe (Sp) admitted on 21 July to having broken the government’s integrity rules by purchasing shares in the arms and technology group Kongsberg Gruppen. He resigned both as a minister and SP deputy leader. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt’s (Ap) husband has bought and sold shares, including in the arms manufacturer Kongsberg Gruppen, while she has been minister. Huitfeldt has not fulfilled her duty according to the rules of competence to obtain information about her husband’s financial activities, according to the legal department in the Ministry of Justice. (Sources: NTB/news) Have an overview Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Ap) is not the only one in the government with a spouse who owns shares. So does Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol’s husband Rune Øyan, confirms the Labor minister in his response to news’s inquiry. Kjerkol claims she is well aware of his financial ties and says they have not offered any challenges to his integrity. – At all times I have had an overview of my husband’s financial dispositions and share purchases. My assessment is that none of my spouse’s financial dispositions mean that I am or have been incompetent in my role as a minister, Kjerkol writes in an email to news. DOES NOT ANSWER: Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) says her husband’s share investments have not disqualified her, but does not state which companies he has interests in. Photo: Hanna Johre / NTB She emphasizes that, according to the Handbook for political management, she is obliged to have “good knowledge of the impartiality rules and make an ongoing assessment of impartiality in all cases”. Kjerkol does not state in her answer to news what kind of shares her husband has invested in, but stresses that the ministry’s administrative management has been informed. – In my integrity interview with the ministry in connection with taking up office, I informed the ministry about both mine and my husband’s financial dispositions. When asked why she does not choose to be open about what financial dispositions her husband has made while she has been a minister, she answers as follows: – My husband does not have shares or business interests in the health sector. As mentioned, my assessment is that none of his financial dispositions have meant that I am or have been incompetent in my role as a minister in my own ministry or as part of the government collegium. The Ministry of Health and Care further informs that “none of the state secretaries has notified that they have shares or similar that make them incompetent in any of the cases they have dealt with”.
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Støre demands a share freeze for everyone in the government – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
