When Margit Martinsen was 17, she was to participate in her very first national political meeting. She had been looking forward for several months to what was to turn out to be a huge disappointment. – I was taken to a party with only adults drinking alcohol. I tried hard to participate in the conversations, but I just felt small and out of place, says Martinsen. She ended up alone in her room, hungry and afraid to go out and get food because it was so uncomfortable outside the door. STILL ENGAGED: Margit Martinsen (21) was not scared away from politics, but even after she came of age she reacted to the party culture. Photo: Mari Reisjå / news At the time, Martinsen was a member of Unge Venstre. Today, she has switched to the Green Party (MDG) and is spokesperson for the youth party Grønn Ungdom. She does not criticize the Left specifically, but believes this is a problem for Norwegian politics in general. The Liberal Party’s general secretary tells news that it is a shame that Martinsen has had this experience with them. – Of course, it shouldn’t be like this. At the same time, I think the vast majority of participants at our events feel well looked after, says Fredrik Carstens. – It is legal to enjoy alcohol at Venstre’s event if you are over 18. Minors have wristbands that show they are under 18 years of age. He says that the party has guidelines that everyone should be moderate with alcohol at the party’s events, and that they have both sobriety guards and security guards present. Requires cultural change There was one thing Margit was looking forward to during her first national meetings: turning 18, so that she could drink and be included in the discussions and decisions that are made in the back room. Now she thinks of this as a democratic problem that the parties must take seriously. – At the parties, there is a lot of networking and lobbying. Then it is quick that those who do not drink are not included, says Martinsen. She demands a cultural change across the entire political line. – The national assemblies are the foundation of democracy. What is decided here affects policy for decades to come. When this drunken ball of a national meeting season is over, the parties must look at how we can do better next time. Alcohol scandals in Norwegian politics Norwegian politics is no stranger to scandals related to alcohol at national meetings and other political gatherings. Here are three examples: Want to have alconekt at MDG For several years Grønn Ungdom has tried to make the national meeting of MDG alcohol-free, but they have not been heard by the mother party. This year, it went for a milder approach than a total ban, and received approval for, among other things, a “white hour” after the end of the meeting. Martinsen has seen that several people have ridiculed this on social media. Facsimile: Screenshot, Twitter Facsimile: Screenshot, Twitter – It should be obvious that politics is an arena where it should be more important to include than to drink, says Martinsen. – I am simply a little disappointed that the MDG’s rather mild alcohol restrictions are being problematised. The alcohol rules came into force when the national assembly gathered at Fornebu outside Oslo this weekend. WITHOUT ALCOHOL: On Friday there was a beach party with non-alcoholic drinks at MDG’s national meeting. But soon most people were queuing at the bar. SWIMMING: Former manager Une Bastholm took a dip. SUMMER IN MAY: Temperatures skyrocketed at Fornebu this weekend. TOM BAR: For a little over an hour after the end of the meeting, there were no alcohol sales. Then the queue filled up. news observed that the queue for the bar quickly grew long after the white hour was over on the first day of the meeting. – We have worked well and for a long time to avoid a flat-filling and nachspiel culture at our national meetings, says party secretary Torkil Vederhus. He believes the total ban the youth party wants will be too strict. – We are concerned with balance. Alcohol is a legal drug in Norway, says Vederhus. He says they have received good feedback on the alcohol-free zones they have created during this year’s national meeting. DOES NOT WANT A TOTAL BAN: Party secretary Torkil Vederhus believes MDG does not have a major problem with the alcohol culture. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news The youngest participant is 15 years old As spokesperson, Martinsen is responsible for the minors at the MDG national meeting. – I wish the meeting was completely alcohol-free, but I feel it is safe and easy to maintain control here. We have our own alcohol-free rooms, and no one must be visibly drunk during the main party on Saturday. AT THE COUNTRY MEETING: Margit Martinsen claps while there is fencing on stage. One of several non-alcoholic beer parties this weekend. Photo: Mari Reisjå / news The youngest participant Martinsen is responsible for is 15 years old. In the past, there have been young people as young as 13. She says she supports other youth party leaders who are working for a better alcohol culture in their parent parties. – I know that other leaders of youth parties spend a lot of energy making sure that everyone has a good time and that no adults do anything stupid to the minors. FENCING: MDG’s Paal Frisvold lost the fencing match – fortunately without being under the influence of alcohol. Photo: Mari Reisjå / news Read also: MDG will negotiate on Norwegian EU membership – Vedum is concerned
ttn-69
Thinks Norwegian politics has an alcohol problem – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
