Norwegian politics, Politics | This is what the newspapers write about Norwegian politics on Monday 29 April.

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The real threat to the welfare state (Victor D. Norman, professor of social economics at the Norwegian School of Economics) (DN)
The welfare state is not threatened by competition. It is threatened by private health insurance.

I will not take credit for this prediction. It already came many years ago from my friend and colleague Kalle Moene, who pointed out that the universal welfare state would wither if the offers were not good enough so that even the more well-off benefited from relying on the public offers. He was absolutely right, and the future is unfortunately becoming the present.

Eventually, a large proportion of the working population – at least in private business – will have private health insurance which ensures their place first in the queue when they need help. If we get there, the entire welfare state is in danger of collapsing. read more

The leader of the justice committee fears Swedish conditions (Aftenposten)
The leader of the justice committee in the Storting, Helge André Njåstad (Frp), fears “Swedish conditions” because of all the violence and shooting incidents in Oslo recently.

Figures from the police show that the number of serious violent incidents in Oslo almost doubled from 2022 to 2023, writes Aftenposten. The number of stabbings also increased, from around 20 in 2022 to over 50 last year – and in the last six months alone there have been nine shooting incidents in the capital.

– It is a development that is going in the wrong direction. It is a very serious situation. The combination of crime increasing and the number of police man-years falling is not sustainable. It is no longer just the FRP that talks about Swedish conditions. They also do that in the police, claims the politician., says Helge André Njåstad. read more

– We are at a tipping point in Oslo (NRK)
Several episodes of violent violence and shootings and fewer police officers in Oslo. SP leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum now wants to strengthen local police in the capital. – There has been more money into the police, but the costs have been demanding, says Vedum. and adds: – We must both take the gangs to the streets, but we must also crush the flow of money and take the big boys behind those who are on the streets.

City councilor in Oslo, Eirik Lae Solberg (H), says he is concerned that there are violent episodes in the city almost daily. – We are at a tipping point in Oslo, a very serious situation. Either we get rid of crime now, or it will develop and become even worse, believes Solberg.

He believes that Vedum and the government downplay the police’s own figures on how many resources they have available. read more

– Can’t continue (Daily newspaper)
On the night of Sunday, shots were once again fired in Oslo’s streets. – I am deeply concerned about the development we are seeing. There are almost daily serious episodes of violence in Oslo, says city council leader Eirik Lae Solberg (H).

According to the police’s own statistics, 17 attempted murders with firearms were reported in 2023 in Oslo. The statistics worry Solberg, who is calling for more resources for the police in the capital. According to the city council leader, there have been 133 fewer police officers in Oslo in the past year.

– We have to have a stronger police effort in Oslo. It is disturbing that there are so many episodes – that the threshold for committing violence has become markedly lower. I urge the government to allocate significant resources to the police in Oslo, so that we can reverse this serious development, says the city council leader. read more

Tax shock in Conservative municipalities (Daily newspaper)
Right-wing municipalities increase municipal taxes more than Labor-run municipalities – completely contrary to Erna Solberg’s election promise before the municipal elections. This is shown by a review of the so-called KOSTRA figures to Statistics Norway, which are figures from the municipalities’ own reporting. The figures have been compiled by the Labor Party.

In the municipalities governed by the Labor Party, bills for municipal taxes will increase by ten percent this year compared to 2023. In municipalities governed by the Conservative Party, they will increase by twelve percent. On average, a municipality where the Labor Party has the mayor will increase fees by around NOK 1,400 in 2024. A municipality where the Conservative Party has the mayor will increase fees by around NOK 1,600. read more

Ann Jorunn Hillersøy is the new INP leader (NTB)
Ann Jorunn Hillersøy from Bergen was elected as the new leader of the Industrial and Business Party (INP) at the party’s national meeting on Sunday. Hillersøy became politically involved because of opposition to wind power, and is a member of the city council in Bergen, writes Bergens Tidende.

The choice was between Hillersøy and Irene Stendal Østerbø, while acting leader and former deputy leader Joar Nesse withdrew his candidacy before the national meeting started. INP was founded by Owe Ingemann Waltherzøe, but he resigned as party leader and founded the new Det norske industriparti (DNI) in January this year. read more

Paralyzed by mail tsunami (Daily newspaper)
Deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Åsmund Aukrust (Ap) nominated the UN organization UNRWA for the peace prize on 1 February. Since then, his email has been put out of action. Aukrust believes it is all an organized e-mail bombardment from Israel’s supporters.

– These are organized email campaigns from Israel’s supporters. I’ve also had to block everyone I don’t know on social media, it was too much, says Aukrust. – But I can live with that just fine. It is a small price to pay, says Aukrust. read more

The farmers’ organizations have had a number of reports following the demonstrations (the nation)
New members have flocked to the Norwegian Farmers’ and Small Farmers’ Association after the demonstrations last week. The Norwegian Farmers’ Association has also gained more members. Since the farmers’ demonstration, the Norwegian Farmers’ and Small Farmers’ Association (NBS) has gained 134 new members, Nationen writes. read more

The Ukraine war will affect the revised national budget (Aftenposten)
The government is currently working on the proposal for a revised national budget. The details will be presented on 14 May, but Støre is already clear that the war in Ukraine will leave a clear mark on the priorities in the budget, writes Aftenposten.

– What is happening in Ukraine now is very serious. A lot is at stake, and the fighting is going on under increasingly strong Russian pressure. The situation has worsened over time. It is our responsibility to contribute, says Støre. The Prime Minister says that what can be called Ukraine-related expenses will be over NOK 50 billion in 2024. This includes both military and civilian support, as well as the reception of Ukrainian refugees here at home.

– There is money we could use for other things, but it is absolutely necessary to do this now, says Støre. Before the weekend, NTB was informed that the increase in defense budgets is NOK 15 billion in the revised budget and in the budget for 2025, but the government has not stated how much of this will already come this year. read more

The government will have a thorough review of FOT routes: – A step in the right direction (Folkbladet)
NHO’s regional directors in Northern Norway are well satisfied with the government’s initiative for a thorough review of the flight offer on the routes that receive state support. Earlier this week, it became known that the government will have a thorough review of the flight offer on the routes that receive state support, the so-called FOT routes. NHO’s regional directors in Northern Norway are well satisfied with that, writes Folkebladet. read more

The Minister for Children on the drug revelations in child care: – We may be making it worse (NRK)
Children under the age of 13 come to child welfare institutions for help, but become addicted to drugs. – It is my responsibility, says Children’s Minister Kjersti Toppe. read more

All licenses under scrutiny: Could be the end of adoption to Norway (NRK)
Now all permits to adopt children from abroad are being reassessed. – If we lose the licence, we have to close down, say the leaders of the associations that mediate adoption. read more

The teacher crisis cannot be solved with lower requirements (manager, DN)
When fewer people apply for teacher training, it is not necessarily the study that is the problem, but what meets them when they finish. read more

Young blue blood (Frithjof Jacobsen, DN)
The right-wing parties own the young, while the left-wing young are owned by the parties. read more

Guys like that, that’s what the old left wants (Eva Grinde, DN)
The left side will release men’s suppressed pram wheels, while the right side will have more room for the clockwork man. Does it go together? read more

The left must have a strategy to meet populism (Erik Solheim, former head of UN Environment) (DN)
Without a resolute, non-racist but realistic immigration policy, the centre-left parties will struggle to come to power in the coming decades. read more

Mediation is now underway to avoid a major shop strike (NTB)
Thousands of employees in Handel og Kontor (HK), Parat and Negotia may go on strike from Tuesday if mediation with Virke does not lead to progress. Building materials stores, grocery stores and duty-free shops in particular will be affected by a strike. HK warns that very many stores in Norgesgruppen and Coop have employees who are taken out on strike, as well as in the administration of Coop Norge. read more

Norway spends 20 billion on the investment: the EU will not count towards the emission cuts (E24)
The EU believes that Norway cannot count with all the emission cuts from carbon capture and storage in order to reach the climate targets. The climate minister asks the union to turn around. read more

The future in our hands: The oil fund does not achieve its climate goals (NTB)
The oil fund fails to meet its climate goals because it does not support shareholder proposals that oil companies should cut their emissions, according to a Fremtiden i våre hender report. read more

The stake is raised. Europe must play (Janne Haaland Matlary, professor of political science at the University of Oslo and professor II at the Norwegian Defense Academy) (DN)
US arms support will help the Ukrainians hold the front line, but not to an offensive. read more

Hamas: No major problems with the proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza (NTB)
A senior Hamas official tells AFP that they have no major problems with the latest proposal by Israel and Egypt for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. read more

Biden reiterated opposition to a Rafah offensive in conversation with Netanyahu (NTB)
US President Joe Biden reiterated his view on an offensive against Rafah in the Gaza Strip, when he spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. read more

Israel’s finance minister promises to topple Netanyahu if Rafah is not attacked (NTB)
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made it clear on Sunday that he will topple Benjamin Netanyahu’s government if the offensive against Rafah fails. read more

Ice front when Blinken left Beijing (Finansavisen)
Only a low-ranking Chinese representative and the American ambassador showed up when Foreign Minister Blinken said goodbye to China. read more

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Also read: This is what the newspapers write about the Norwegian economy on Monday 29 April

Also read: This is what the newspapers write about Oslo Børs on Monday 29 April