Norwegian politics, the Støre government | It is sad that new elections cannot be printed

Civil economist with extensive experience from the financial industry and investment activities. Writes regularly in Nettavisen – preferably about public spending, politics and how power works.

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The worst may still lie ahead. Interest rates are set everywhere. It will take some time for this to seriously affect mortgage interest rates and people’s personal finances.

With low interest rates for as long as young home buyers can remember, steadily rising house prices and good wage growth over many years, many have ended up with large debts. For them it will be extra bad.

Washing his hands

On top of all this, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is rather quiet. Maybe he follows along, but little is done.

Demands that the government must do something to stop power exports, which drain the water reservoirs and drive electricity prices through the roof, have gradually become numerous. Demand to lower fuel prices as well.

Little happens. At the same time, the money flows out of people’s pockets and into the treasury and municipal coffers. Everyone knows that the Norwegian treasury is extremely well-stocked.

Also read: The right is good at criticizing, but is itself part of the problem

Therefore, it is completely impossible for Støre to understand that people cannot be compensated to a greater extent for the cost blow that is now coming.

Claiming that a reduction in fuel taxes leads to an increase in interest rates, like this the Prime Minister attempted in June, has no credibility either.

It is not budgetary discipline that is the most precarious right now. Easing taxes will only mean that the state gives back to the people part of the increase in income that the same state has already received as a result of the price increase.

People understand this, even if the Prime Minister doesn’t seem to.

The writing is on the wall for the government

In the opinion polls, voters have long since abandoned the government. Are we to believe the numbers from the website pollofpolls.no, the two government parties Ap and Sp have lower support combined than the Conservative Party now has alone. The Progress Party also has good wind in its sails.

The same voters who less than a year ago overwhelmingly turned their backs on the bourgeois government now seem to regret it very much.

If there were an election now, the Storting would be almost as blue as the historically blue election in 2013.

Also read: The government thinks it can scoop the boat with a strainer

If we see what has happened, it is not really that surprising. That’s a giant breach of promise. The government that was supposed to give ordinary people a boost has in a very short time ended up being the government that gives ordinary people historically high bills.

The writing on the wall is clear, but Støre seems unwilling to read.

A home of fog

People also do not know what the government thinks about very central issues. The government has no idea how to solve the electricity crisis, which would not have existed without the power cables abroad.

With crystal-clear election promises from Trygve Slagsvold Vedum last year that fuel prices should not exceed NOK 20 a litre, it is no use blaming that interest rates may rise if the promises are fulfilled.

Dealing with this requires clear leadership. And that applies whether the government chooses to stand by its promises or not.

Sometimes promises cannot be kept. People can understand that. But only if there is a good reason for it. And that reason must be communicated clearly and reliably.

Instead of clear leadership and clear speech, the government seems to drift around in a foggy world of action paralysis and obscurity. If there’s one thing people don’t want in difficult times, it’s uncertainty and fumbling.

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The main responsibility for this lies with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. He is the boss and is the one who will set the course. Then it’s no use being an indecisive mist prince.

Such management does not work elsewhere. In business, Støre and many of the ministers would not have made it. Hilde Midthjellone of Norway’s foremost businesswomen, is absolutely right when she says she would not employ them in her own company.

A new board is needed

As it looks now, the voters made a big mistake by giving the Labor Party and the Center Party confidence in 2021.

Although the Labor Party did relatively poorly, the big election victory for the left opened the government offices for Støre.

With trust and power comes responsibility. Responsibility for delivering.

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Unfortunately, there are no signs that the current government is going to deliver. If it cannot do that, it should give up and give power to others.

Nor does it seem to happen with the first ones. Should the government we have now fail, there is no prospect of anything better. The composition of the Storting is as it is until the next election.

In many other countries, there is an opportunity to call new elections when governance becomes too difficult.

This is not the case in Norway, but right now a new election would have been appropriate.

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