Solberg reacts to referendum blister: – Seems like a work accident

Earlier this week it became clear that the government uses its right of initiative to investigate the division of Kristiansand municipality.

This means that the stage is set for a referendum in Søgne and Songdalen in connection with the local elections in 2023.

Here the question is whether the two former municipalities want to break out of the new Kristiansand municipality, or not.

One who has reacted strongly to the news is the Labor Party mayor in the municipality, Jan Oddvar Skiland. He was in crisis meetings with the Labor Party centrally this week, after he was not notified of the news of the referendum before it was published.

Erna Solberg describes what has happened here as a work accident.

– That the Labor Party in Kristiansand was not informed before it was published seems like a work accident, yes. It must be responsible for poor organization internally in the government parties, says Solberg to TV 2.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told TV 2 earlier this week that he understands the Kristiansand mayor’s disappointment.

– I have always said that I understand his disappointment. He manages his municipality in a good way, and has my full support. I will go to Kristiansand when my calendar opens for that, he says.

– Should have kept the plan

Solberg is skeptical that the government does not follow the plan, which was to have the matter clarified by 1 June.

– That plan they should have kept. This creates unrest and frustration for both Kristiansand and a possible Søgne municipality. It affects the services in the municipality and the fight for labor, because you are unsure of where you will end up, she says to TV 2.

Solberg emphasizes that the government now risks throwing Kristiansand into an unsuitable situation that can last a very long time.

– Now they are sending Kristiansand municipality and possibly new municipalities into a limbo situation that could potentially last for five years. It is demanding to carry out reorganization, and that means that you change focus, she says.

– Compromise

Solberg is clear that the decision to intervene in Kristiansand is obviously a compromise between the governing parties the Labor Party and the Center Party.

– A compromise in the government must be made, but I think most people thought they should agree by now, she says.

She uses the opportunity to send a message to the Center Party’s way of working.

– It is a sign that the Center Party never lets things be as they were negotiated. It is a demanding way of working. It is demanding for everyone else who may have thought that the rounds you have had in the Storting were the rounds you should have, she says.

Prime Minister Støre was very clear earlier this week that the decision to intervene is a decision made by the government.

– The Center Party has been very concerned about this, that those who live in these municipalities must have their say, and then this is a solution we as a government stand for, he says.

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