The Norwegian Industry case shows the need for a lobby register – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

On Thursday, it became known that long-time director of Norwegian industry Stein Lier-Hansen managed a cabin and hunting area on Hardangervidda between 2015 and until last autumn. During this period, the employer’s organization paid over NOK 1.1 million for renting a hunting area and cabin, as well as NOK 1.3 million for seaplane transport to and from the area. The cabin and the hunting area must have been used for relationship and network building. It has also occasionally been used in a private context by Lier-Hansen, according to E24 which revealed the case. Want to see the guest list Red politician Mimir Kristjansson demands to see the guest list. Photo: Kristian Skårdalsmo Several NHO leaders have criticized the use of money, and the practice was stopped last autumn when the board was made aware of the business. – It shows how cash-rich actors such as Norwegian industry can in practice buy relationships. So power and influence. Good old fashioned lubrication. They spend millions of kroner to buy themselves good relationships in society. It shows how unfairly the power is distributed, says parliamentary representative and Rødt politician Mimir Kristjansson to news. He now demands full transparency from Norwegian industry about who has taken part in relationship-building trips at the cabin. – We need to get a list of everyone who has been to that cabin. At least if there have been people from the administration, the state or politics there. There is no privacy issue if rich and powerful people meet in this way, says Kristjansson. Need a lobby register Grunde Almeland (V) believes the case once again highlights the need for a lobby register. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news Storting representative Grunde K. Almeland (V) says this is another example of why a lobby register is needed in Norway. The Left has several times previously called for such an overview. – This does not look good in any way. This case is also a reminder that the public should have greater insight into this type of influence work than we have today, says Almeland and adds: – A lobby register ensures the public insight into who tries to influence political decisions and when it happens. It will also counteract potential corruption by providing insight into when this type of meeting takes place. This is powerful Norwegian Industry Norwegian Industry is the largest and most powerful of 18 national associations in the Norwegian Confederation of Business and Industry (NHO). Over 3,000 Norwegian companies are members of Norsk Industri, and together they employ 133,000 employees. The state, together with the organizations on the employee side and the employer side, together make up what is called the tripartite collaboration. The National Organization in Norway (LO) and NHO are the two largest organizations on each side. During salary settlements, the frontline trade negotiates first. It is an industry exposed to competition, most often export companies. Norwegian Industry therefore has an important role in the tripartite collaboration. Stein Lier-Hansen, as long-time head of Norwegian Industry, has been at the forefront of the employer’s negotiations in wage settlements. Almeland believes that such a register should not only include parliamentary politicians, but also government members, state secretaries and political advisers. Will not show the list Norwegian industry does not want to comment on the criticism from Kristjansson. When asked whether they support the proposal for a lobby register, chairman Ståle Kyllingstad replies: – This is not something we are focusing on now. Norsk Industri has so far not wanted to make public who has been at the cabin, out of concern for the privacy of the participants. – Can Norsk Industri rule out that there are parliamentary politicians, party leaders, ministers or state secretaries on the list? – We can neither rule out nor confirm this, replies Kyllingstad. The cabin is located in Vinje municipality in Telemark



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