Over a year before the municipal and county council elections are under way, the blue Conservative bus rolls off to campaign in all the country’s constituencies.
– It is important to raise the election campaign mood early and get the municipal politicians to think about the election campaign now, says Erna Solberg at the front of the Høyre bus.
– FRONT OF THE BUS: The party leader is comfortable at the front of the bus. Photo: Sunny Paal Sharma / TV 2
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TV 2 is involved in the first leg that goes from Oslo to Kristiansand, with close to 20 stops on the way.
– We always have the ambition to win everyone, says Solberg.
A message to the grassroots
Solberg acknowledges that they did not make a good municipal election in 2019, but believes that the Conservative Party will now be able to take many municipalities.
– We will manage to win back many of the Vestfold municipalities, and not least Oslo, Drammen, Bergen, Sandnes, Stavanger and Trondheim.
In her luggage, the former prime minister has a message that she will give to all Conservative mayors and mayoral candidates.
– MAYOR CANDIDATE: Erna Solberg is in Risør to visit mayoral candidate Kai Strat, and participate in the Tree Boat Festival. Photo: Sunny Paal Sharma / TV 2
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– It is important that they look at long-term issues that people are concerned about in the municipality, but which often do not make “juicy” headlines. Such as, for example, development of care for the elderly and increased housing and school construction where needed, says Solberg.
Will return
Although the general election is not until 2025, Solberg does not rule out that the general election campaign has already started.
– A good municipal election is a good starting point for a good parliamentary election.
– NEW BUS: This year the Høyre bus is somewhat smaller than last year, but the picture of Solberg with the V sign, purple sunglasses and Pride bracelet is the same. Photo: Sunny Paal Sharma / TV 2
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The party leader says she misses the advantages of being prime minister, but not the machinery.
– Although it is really well organised, there is a lot of management.
It is not the 24-hour monitoring of PST that is tiring, says Solberg.
– You just have to learn to live with that. What was tiring is having responsibility and constantly having to make a decision, but it’s something you have to enjoy doing.
– Would you consider doing it again?
– Absolutely.
The biggest difference between life as a prime minister and an opposition politician is the resources, she says.
– INVESTMENT: At a strawberry farmer in Larvik, Solberg tells that the Conservative Party will invest in Norwegian food production. Photo: Sunny Paal Sharma / TV 2
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– If you wonder about something as prime minister, you get a note with facts, advantages and disadvantages from the best experts in the country. I don’t have that now.
New party leader?
The Norwegian Conservative Party’s election committee determined in April this year that she may continue as party leader for another period. But whether she will remain in office until the general election in 2025 has not been decided.
– It is up to the Conservative Party to decide who will be leader at that time, but I have ambitions to do so, and I am available.
Nevertheless, Solberg will not stand in the way of “young forward-thinking” candidates.
– WILL LEARN: On the road, Solberg will meet people, companies and social actors to see and learn and get input. Photo: Thomas Evensen / TV 2
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– It’s fun to be party leader and run politics, but I’m also aware that I don’t want to be a plug in the system.
Solberg says that she gets a lot of support from the party.
– For now, most people say that I should continue, but now I have just been re-elected for another term.
– You say most people tell you that you should continue. Who do you think should go?
– No, I only said that to appear modest and not arrogant, she says with a smile.
– WILL NOT LEAVE SKUTA: The former prime minister says that, even after eight years in government, she is not ready to leave “Høyre-skuta”. Photo: Sunny Paal Sharma / TV 2
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Solberg will not say what kind of job offer is needed for her to consider leaving.
– I have received some requests to be a candidate for something in the past year, but no, now I intend to be in Norwegian politics.
– What job offers are these?
– I have received some offers of candidacy, but I do not intend to comment on it.
Possible successors
Henrik Asheim is 1st deputy leader and Tina Bru is 2nd deputy leader in the Conservative Party. The party leader is sure that they would be good heirs.
– Henrik Asheim and Tina bru have flourished in the past. They had been good party leaders, but they had been very different.
– GOOD HEIRS: Solberg thinks Tina Bru (left) and Henrik Asheim (right), who are also in Risør, could be good heirs. Photo: Sunny Paal Sharma / TV 2
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At the same time, she points to several party colleagues as good candidates.
– We have many others who could also be suitable as party leaders, such as Ine Eriksen Søreide and Nikolai Astrup.
The former prime minister says that the party has a strategy to promote those who will develop in the party going forward.
– Both the deputy chairmen and others in the group will go to the front line in many debates in order to become better known. When you have been prime minister for eight years, I am quite well known and there is no point in me standing in all the debates.
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