KrF leader Kjell Ingolf Ropstad has benefited from having a registered address with his parents until last year, writes Aftenposten.
Ropstad lived in Oslo before he became a parliamentary representative in 2009.
In the same year, the politician bought half of a semi-detached house in Lillestrøm. He never moved in there, but instead took over a home in Oslo that was paid for by the Storting.
He was entitled to this according to the Storting’s rules on commuter housing since he was registered with his parents.
The regulations opened up for everyone who is registered more than 40 kilometers away from Oslo to get free housing. Several top politicians have taken advantage of these benefits.
During today’s party leader questioning, Prime Minister Erna Solberg pointed out that Ropstad’s choice of registered address is within the regulations.
However, she does not think it is unproblematic.
– We politicians must be careful about using schemes in a way that they are not really intended for, Solberg said.
Within the regulations
Only in November last year, when Ropstad was 35 years old, a minister and established with his wife and children, did he report moving from his parents’ home.
Then, for ten years, Ropstad had paid for commuter housing for himself and his family. He also received free travel home and several tax benefits.
Ropstad has not broken any rules by being registered in the boys’ room with the parents. The Ministry of Finance has stated that representatives who are registered with their parents can receive the commuter benefits.
NRK has not succeeded in getting a comment from Minister of Children and Family Affairs Kjell Ingolf Ropstad on Monday morning.
To Aftenposten Ropstad says the following:
“I can understand that the scheme can be perceived as unfair. If the presidency wants to go through the scheme, then it is not against me. The rules for Storting politicians must also be in proportion to what most people have to deal with in terms of rules. “
Krf leader Kjell Ingolf Ropstad at home in the kitchen in Oslo, where he is now also registered.
Photo: NRK
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– Can be criticized
– The intention in the rules is not that you should be paid for your own home, so here he has broken with the intention? asked host Astrid Randen.
– Storting representatives from other parts of the country must have the opportunity to pursue politics, both in their home district and here. And could live in Oslo in a reasonable way. That is the intention of the rules
– Will this have any consequences for him?
– As long as this is followed within the rules, I think it can be criticized that you go beyond the intentions, but I do not think it has consequences.
Bondevik also “lived” in the boys’ room
Ropstad is not the only Storting politician who has been registered with his parents after he was married and living in the Oslo area.
Former Prime Minister and Krf leader Kjell Magne Bondevik also had a registered address with his father in Molde for many years, after he had moved to Eastern Norway. It revealed VG 22. april 1999.
At the time, it was established that Bondevik violated the Population Register Act by not reporting the move in time.
Bondevik himself admitted that he had broken the regulations.
– It was a mistake that the move internally in the municipality was not reported, the then Prime Minister Bondevik told the newspaper.
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