MDG-Lan must explain itself about collective chaos in Oslo – Greater Oslo

– We ask that we have to have a review of the chaotic bus operation that was last winter. We want to know what caused it to turn out the way it did, says Mari Rise Knutsen (R).

– It is appropriate that those who have taken the decisions back in time are made responsible for them, says Frps Ingeborg Bjørnevik.

The politicians from each of the “outer wings” come together in the demand to make the red-greens responsible for the bus chaos in Oslo.

MDG councilors must respond

Together with independent representative Lars Petter Solås, they call the two former MDG city councilors onto the carpet:

Sirin Stav, who now heads the transport committee. And Lan Marie Berg.

– It was MDG who had the transport council when the foundations for the bus chaos were laid, says Knutsen.

Among other things, three of the agreements on bus operation in Oslo were concluded on Sirin Stav’s watch.

The other two were entered into when Lan Marie Berg was a city councillor.

A number of electric buses were then also purchased. Several of them were bought by Avinor in January, because they do not have a long enough range to drive in the city.

Rødt, Frp and Solås are asking for an all-day hearing where Stav and Berg are among those who have to respond to the decisions made around buses, public transport and electrification.

The request for a hearing was sent on Friday.

Right-wing support

And they get support from the Right.

– Yes, I think it is only natural that Sirin Stav and Lan Marie Berg have to answer questions about things that were decided during their time as city councilors in Oslo, says Mehmet Kaan Inan.

He is Høyre’s spokesperson for transport in Oslo.

Thus, there is a majority in favor of calling the resigned MDG councils to the floor in the hearing.

Last week, MDG-Stav joined forces with Labor Party and SV and demanded that current city councilor Marit Vea (V) must answer for the bus chaos.

Tomorrow she must present Ruter’s crisis plans at an extraordinary meeting.

Now the red-greens themselves are being called in to answer.

– The Labor Party, SV and the Green Party must take a look at why things went the way they did, instead of blaming everyone else, says Inan.

Provokes both red and blue

For: the move by Ap, SV and MDG last week has provoked other parties.

– I think it is very special and strange of Ap, SV and MDG that they aim all their guns at those who run the city now. They were the ones who led the city when these buses were bought and the contracts were entered into, says Høyre’s Inan.

FRP and Rødt completely agree with the Conservative Party on this.

– Yes, I would go so far as to say that it is a disclaimer that we have seen in Oslo politics for a long time, says Frps Bjørnevik.

Rødts Knutsen was also provoked by the red-green’s actions.

– Because it is actually those who made themselves a little high and dark last week who were responsible when these tenders and agreements were entered into, she says.

MDG’s Sirin Stav says the most important thing is to avoid a repeat of the bus chaos,

– Ruter believes that they have not received what they ordered, and the Unibus manager has resigned. I am happy that an external evaluation is being worked on, and will of course attend a hearing if it becomes relevant.

Berg has also previously said that she will appear at the hearing if she is summoned.

Electrified against advice

FRP is particularly concerned with electrification. The red-greens ruled when it was decided that Oslo should replace all buses with electric buses sooner than planned.

– We are interested in getting answers to how they could have ignored professional advice when they went for it, says the party’s Bjørnevik.

Because in February, Teknisk Ukeblad revealed that Ruter was warned in advance against electrifying everything at once, instead of gradually.

But: several parties in the city council support electrification. For example Red. They are less concerned with the fact that the buses are electric, and more concerned with the demands placed on them.

– There is a lot that can be fixed with the electric buses we also have, but where the tendering regime is so detailed and so strict that it is actually not allowed to attach a chain, for example, Knutsen points out.

Surprised by winter chaos

For its part, Stav maintains that it was right to electrify.

– It has been absolutely right to bet on emission-free buses, which produce less noise and cleaner city air, she says.

Stav points out that there was a majority in the city council for the goal of emission-free buses before 2028.

– Dit is Ruter himself who has chosen to roll out electric buses at today’s pace. Routes have gradually phased in the electric buses from 2018 in order to gain experience, says Stav, and adds:

– I am therefore surprised by the situation we have seen this winter.

Want a hearing quickly

The hearing parties and the Conservative Party disagree about one thing:

The Conservative Party would prefer to wait for the external evaluation that has been ordered. It must arrive before the next winter season. But when, nobody knows.

The representatives from Rødt and Frp fear it will not arrive until after the summer. It is too late, they say.

– We want to be better prepared for next winter, quite simply. And don’t make the same mistake again. Therefore, we believe that the hearing must come as soon as possible now, says Rødts Knutsen.

Frps Bjørnevik believes it is also about preparedness. For example, if you need more diesel buses for safety’s sake.

– Because it is completely unsustainable that we in Oslo, as a capital city, are unable to get a public transport system that works in winter, she says.

They are therefore asking for the hearing to take place before the summer.

The right says that they still believe it is best to wait until the evaluation comes. But if the hearing takes place before then, they still support that Lan Marie Berg and Sirin Stav be called in.

The city council’s rules state that three representatives are enough to demand a hearing in a committee.