In its report, the Corona Commission concluded that the decision to introduce the measures on 12 March 2020 should have been taken by the government, and they point out that the Constitution states that matters of importance shall be decided in the Cabinet.
Instead, it was the Norwegian Directorate of Health that introduced «the strictest measures in peacetime»When Norway was shut down, even though Solberg delivered the message.
Dagbladet has over time, through repeated requests, tried to get an answer from the Prime Minister’s Office (SMK) if Erna Solberg (H) was aware that she broke the constitution.
Believes e-mail reveals Nybø
Not answering
But the prime minister will not answer what she knew.
– The reason why the Norwegian Directorate of Health made the decision was that the Storting, through the Infection Control Act, has given broad powers to the Norwegian Directorate of Health to make decisions to protect the population against infectious diseases. The contingency powers in the Infection Control Act came into force as early as January 2020 when coronavirus was defined as a generally dangerous infectious disease, writes State Secretary Rune Alstadsæther (H) in an email to Dagbladet.
The answer comes from direct questions about violations of the constitution from Dagbladet.
– The Prime Minister must be able to answer this, it is a yes or no question, says health policy spokesperson Ingvild Kjerkol (Labor) to Dagbladet.
A tired government
– Agree
Solberg could have convened an intergovernmental conference by telephone to ensure that the decision to close Norway was anchored in government.
She did not.
– Until 12 March, the pandemic was primarily handled in the health track and according to the division of roles that follows from the planning. As the situation was until 12 March, it was natural for the Norwegian Directorate of Health to make the decision. Therefore, the relationship with the Constitution was not problematized on March 12, the focus was on protecting life and health, Alstadsæther continues.
– I would still like to emphasize that even though the decision to introduce the intervening measures was formally made by the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the decision was made in consultation with the government. I still agree that the decision should have been made by the government in the cabinet, as the Corona Commission has pointed out, he adds.
–
