– NOK 25,000 every single year if you have debt from secondary or higher education, precisely because we want to develop the whole of Norway, Trygve Slagsvold Vedum told news in September. 189 district municipalities were able to celebrate that they will soon be able to advertise with: “Move to us – get your student debt erased.” Price tag? Approximately NOK 1.3 billion. How much was set aside in the state budget for the investment? NOK 0. – Creative number manipulation. It is misleading the voters, says Margret Hagerup (H) to news. Do you move to the district if the government cancels NOK 25,000 of your student debt every year? Yes No Maybe Don’t have student debt Show result Think people might be disappointed It was on 18 September that Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum invited to a sausage fest at Stranda. Big news was to be launched. In fact, so big that even Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had to get a sausage. – These municipalities are getting fewer and fewer young people, they are moving from the municipalities. This will be a helping hand that makes it a little more financially convenient to settle in the district, said the prime minister about the cancellation of student debt in 212 municipalities. Set aside money now, or bet that you will win the election next year? Photo: Thomas Fure In the state budget for 2025, however, no money has been set aside to erase a single penny of student debt. Only NOK 13 million has been set aside, but it will go towards system development in connection with the project. Research Minister Oddmund Hoel (Sp) believes the government has been crystal clear that the measure will not come into force until 1 January 2026, and that this is in no way about deceiving people. – We have created an arrangement that will cost the state budget 1.3 billion, when we continue to govern after the next election. Oddmund Hoel (Sp) points out that the cancellation of debt will only begin in 2026. Therefore, the state budget for 2025 does not need to contain any money for it. Photo: Hanna Johre / Hanna Johre Unsure of the effect But if the government is not allowed to continue, what will happen then? – Then you have to ask those who would eventually take over government power, Hoel replies. Alright, let’s do it. Høyre’s Margret Hagerup believes many have thought that this would apply regardless, given the rhetoric of the government. Margret Hagerup cannot give a clear answer as to whether they will continue or scrap the proposal, should they win the election next year. Photo: Anders Eidesvik / news The leader of Unge Høyre, Ola Svenneby, called the project “outright madness”. Hagerup in the parent party is not as clear, but neither does she seem to have faith that canceling student debt is the best thing that can happen to the district. – It is not something we have prioritized in our budgets so far and we are skeptical about the effect of this. So how do you know if this actually comes to fruition? news asks Oddmund Hoel (Sp). – It is up to the voters at the next general election whether this becomes something or not. I think people may be disappointed. At Nord University in Bodø, the students are a bit confused. – It could be that people move and take action before you know whether it will be implemented, says Henrik Gaundal, who studies real estate. He continues: – I feel a little sorry for those who eventually move to a district municipality, and it will never be implemented. Henrik Gaundal (in the middle) here together with Julian Hillestad Haga and Ine Kristin Baclay Kristiansen. Photo: Lars-Bjørn Martinsen / news Nursing student Julian Hillestad Haga believes that the measure, if introduced, would be tempting for many. – You don’t quite know where the road goes next while you’re studying. Opportunities may arise that could be positive for me, and it is tempting not to have so much in student loans. Finnmark and parts of Troms already have a similar measure in place. Other municipalities have introduced it of their own volition, such as Vestvågøy in Lofoten. That prompted Hanne Sørgård Lid from Voss to move there. The teacher moved to Lofoten, largely because of NOK 25,000 extra in the first year. Photo: Trude Furuly / news – If people are a bit like me, it will attract people to the district, absolutely. I think it will also be if they first move out. You fall in love with the place, the nature and the people, she says to news. – What do you think about the fact that it is not certain that the promise will become a reality? – I hope that happens. Some may expect it, and move because of it. It also suddenly doesn’t happen, she says and adds: – I think people can be disappointed. Published 08.10.2024, at 20.38 Updated 08.10.2024, at 20.55
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The Conservative Party believes the government is playing tricks with numbers – news Nordland
