STOVNER (Dagbladet): Jonas Gahr Støre is now campaigning intensely to form a government with the Center Party and the Socialist People’s Party. Both of the two preferred partners are against the EEA agreement, Norway’s most important trade agreement.
Last week, the Labor Party leader campaigned at Stovner in Groruddalen in Oslo. An area where the Center Party has supplied itself roughly with the Labor Party’s bedrock.
EEA guarantee
So why should people in Groruddalen vote for the Labor Party and groruddøl Kamzy Gunaratnam and not the Center Party and groruddøl Jan Bøhler?
– An important thing for Oslo as a city of knowledge and capital and for Norwegian exports, is the EEA agreement. When you choose a course for Oslo in the future, it is a matter where there are big differences, says Jonas Gahr Støre in answer to the question.
– But is the EEA agreement in play?
– I think it is not, because it is not relevant for the Labor Party with a government that does not use the EEA agreement as a basis.
WARNING: Jonas Gahr Støre warns against voting for the Center Party if one is concerned with European cooperation. Photo: Kristin Svorte / Dagbladet
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Not safe with Sp
– But then you can safely vote for the Center Party?
– No, I do not think you should do that. You have to go for those who want to develop the cooperation further, the Labor leader explains.
– So it is an argument for voting for the Labor Party that one should preserve the EEA agreement?
– Absolutely. When we see what Europe is going to do about climate, there are many here at home who discuss this as if it were a threat. But it is an opportunity for Norway. We can stand up and be an important strategic partner. We can develop renewable energy on which we will develop clean industry in Norway. We know the catch and storage that we can utilize here at Klemetsrud, and we know the circular economy that Europe needs.
– Then you must have an offensive view of what the EEA gives us of opportunities and not go out of it. But I want to emphasize, it is the Conservative and FRP board we want to replace, says Støre.
