– They piss on everything we have worked and fought for for years.
That’s what party leader Arnt Rune Flekstad says to Nettavisen.
The small party Liberalistene is now staring the closure in the face. They have called for an extraordinary meeting of the national board. There they will discuss whether the party should be closed down or not.
– Very sad
The new electoral law means that parties must have had 5,000 votes in a general election to automatically be included in the ballot at the next general election.
The Liberals received 4,520 votes, or 0.2 percent in 2021.
If you do not achieve 5,000 votes, you must collect signatures of a total of 1 percent of all those entitled to vote. That means 38,917 votes. The same person can only sign for one party, according to the new law.
Party leader Flekstad calls it a “miracle” to get so many signatures.
– This is like selling krill and mobile subscriptions on the street. Not many people stop, even if they could be positive. If we have to stop 10 people for each signature, that’s 400,000 people.
The nearly 40,000 signatures must be submitted together with complete electoral lists in all counties. Work on these has not yet begun.
– Why take away from us the opportunity to participate? asks the party leader in frustration.
The party has stood for election since 2015. The highest they have achieved is 0.3 per cent in two county elections, and 0.2 per cent as the highest in a parliamentary election.
– We have people who have put in countless hours. It is very sad that people are deprived of the opportunity for a wider range of choices, says the party leader.
The party has reduced public spending and lower taxes and fees as two of its most important issues.
– Easy to become conspiratorial
The other parties in the same situation include the Alliance, the Pirate Party and in Finnmark. The Center Party, the Pensioners’ Party and the INP all received over 5,000 votes in the last election.
– What do you think about the fact that it is the parties you are competing against that have adopted this?
– It’s easy to become conspiratorial, but I’ve come to the conclusion that they haven’t thought this through enough or don’t care, replies Flekstad.
– You have never received more than 0.2 percent in a general election. Is there really any use for you in the Norwegian party flora?
– 5,000 people. It is a small or medium-sized municipality, not a tiny group. We do this because we think it’s right, instead of sitting on our ass and complaining about everyone else, we try to represent alternative thoughts in a serious way.
Flekstad rejects that it is appropriate to delete the party and start anew, which would make it significantly easier to run for the next election.
– I know that certain parties will do it. If you are a one-issue party that only wants attention, there is very little reason not to do it. But if you, like us, have worked to build a serious organisation, it’s not just that. There is a lot of work behind what we have done.
Flekstad says he does not rule out that the national board will try to collect the signatures, even if it is very demanding. If not, closure is next.
