BRAGERNES/STRØMSO: On opposite sides of the Drammen river, just minutes apart, Frp leader Sylvi Listhaug and Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes gave May Day speeches.
Strømsø square on Drammen’s south side was the scene of the Frp leader’s speech. There, it was the Labor Party and LO that were in focus, especially LO’s election campaign contributions to the left.
– What has happened after this government took office is that ordinary Norwegians feel that their purchasing power has been reduced, said Listhaug.
She pointed to electricity and petrol prices, food prices and long healthcare queues.
– Those who do best are those who have money and can buy their way out of the queue, and those who have health insurance, said Listhaug and thundered against the government’s elderly policy.
Mot rast LO
The government’s high income in the past year was also reviewed.
– There is a winner in the whole thing: the Treasury and Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, who are swimming in money.
Lower food VAT, a maximum price for electricity, and the removal of fuel taxes were the solutions Listhaug presented for people to keep more of their money. Then came the attacks on the Labor Party and LO.
– In the wage settlement, LO had one goal: increased purchasing power. But unlike Ap and LO, we believe the state must foot part of that bill, by reducing taxes and fees. Then the companies would not have to raise the prices of the goods, says Listhaug.
Cited the International
She believes the LO leadership is more concerned with protecting Ap and the government than standing up for its members.
– It’s embarrassing to watch, says Listhaug.
The FRP leader believes that LO is a “cheerleader” for a policy that increases taxes and fees dangerously much.
– LO contributes to putting jobs at risk, we see a sharp increase in bankruptcies.
Listhaug quoted the battle song “Internasjonalen”, more specifically a verse she believes LO “forgets to sing”.
– The state’s laws are bent against us, we are weighed down by taxes. Why do you think they removed it, she asked.
Moxnes thundered against Frp
Minutes later it was Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes’s turn at Bragernes Torg. He says May 1 is needed more than ever.
– For the first time in living memory, the majority in Norway do not experience financial security. More people now have to skip one of today’s meals to afford the electricity bill, said the Rødt leader.
Then came an attack on the party that had held an event a few hundred meters away.
– I hear Listhaug say that the FRP is the party for working people. But, now listen here, said Moxnes.
Praised the strike
He listed points he criticizes the Progress Party for: tax cuts, defense of the staffing industry, the EU’s energy agency Acer.
– Listhaug: You pretend to have solutions to electricity prices, but the truth is that you helped create the whole problem, thundered the Rødt leader.
From there, the speech moved on to the general strike in the front trade union.
– It is, as Jørn Eggum said, good old-fashioned class struggle so that people on the floor get their share of the cake they are helping to create, said Moxnes.
Optimistic ending
Like several other speakers, the Rødt leader made the trip to the war in Ukraine, where his party has just been through a harrowing debate about arms support for the country.
– We stand together with socialists and the trade union movement in Ukraine who are fighting for rights in working life and democracy. We stand with the opposition in Russia who are fighting against Putin’s regime. Our crystal clear message is: Russia out of Ukraine now, Moxnes said.
He ended on an optimistic note, with words of faith in a society where people and the environment are more important than profit.
– That faith has moved mountains. We have shown that in the past, said Moxnes.
(NTB)
2023-05-01 11:58:52
#Spoke #Strømsø #Embarrassing #watch
