Comment This is a comment, written by an editorial staff member. The commentary expresses the writer’s views.
After three months with intrigue, tears and a lot of bad political craftsmanship, the municipal council tried on Tuesday evening to put a final stop to the much-discussed refugee case.
It was set on the case map again after the state administrator assessed parts of the decision as illegal in April.
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Decided to accept 125 refugees: – Throw out Frp
But Frps Jon Helgheim already announced several days in advance that he would neither enter nor leave the meeting as the losing party.
The FRP tried completely to the finish line to push down the number of refugees the municipality must receive. Down from 125, which was the municipal director’s new proposal.
This time refused however, the “friends” in the Conservative Party, KrF and the Pensioners’ Party to join in more buzz and baluba. Because those are the words that are used to describe what they have been through.
In the municipal council meeting elected Helgheim therefore a different tactic. He wanted to look ahead, he said. Towards next year. Then Imdi will once again make a request to Drammen and the rest of the municipal organization to accept a certain number of refugees.
FRP will then demand that Drammen accepts zero refugees. This is how much one must be able to expect in compensation after having to give in in the refugee debate in 2024, is the argument now.
Helgheim insured at the same time that he was proud of the decision the party has fought for.
– I am proud of what we achieved, he said.
Without that party has really achieved so much other than setting the immigration debate on fire again, which is admittedly important for the FRP.
But not particularly good for Drammen, or the civic cooperation.
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Harsh criticism: – Trust has been completely torpedoed
Because although mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen (H) could breathe a sigh of relief and felt the new refugee decision as a victory for his own party, the refugee decision has taken a toll on relations in the blue camp. That someone breaks out at one point or another is probably more likely than the four-leaf clover holding together until the next election.
KrF group leader Turid Thomassen, who received national attention for her tears, has made it clear that she cannot take any more such rounds.
– I hope that everyone learns, including myself, and never repeats this. That we never put each other in the same situation, she said. And added that she doesn’t cry anymore.
Drammen absolutely needs a larger debate about integration and how we welcome the refugees who come here.
We need to talk more about what is needed to prevent alienation, get more people into work and activity, prevent child poverty and work against prejudice. To mention something. Even a debate about how many refugees the municipality should accept should be possible without going straight into the trenches. Including the number zero, as the FRP advocates.
Means it one thing the hopeless debate of the last few months has shown is that it should start at a completely different end. In order to build trust and credibility in such heated issues, more relevant knowledge, more facts and more objectivity are required.
It was little in Tuesday’s municipal council which indicated that it will happen. But it’s okay to hope.
