Liberals and leader Guri Melby presented a proposal to the Storting on Thursday to deny Russian fishing vessels access to northern Norwegian ports.
The proposal is Melby’s latest push in the area of foreign policy, where since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine she has stood out as a clear and critical voice of the government.
Melby’s foreign policy involvement did not go unnoticed among his political friends and enemies in the Storting.
Russian denial: sounding the alarm
I’ve had enough
This is now expressed in a note to Venstre’s proposal. There, a joint committee recalls Guri Melby and the Liberal Party of Section 26 of the Constitution.
“The majority of the committee, all but the Liberal Party member, will also recall that the representative proposal raises fundamental questions about the relationship between the Storting and the government in foreign policy. Under Section 26 of the Constitution, the division of responsibilities between the Storting and government in foreign policy differs from other policy areas”, he says in the note.
Dagbladet spoke to a number of sources who all tell the same story:
The remark should be read to mean that they have had enough of Venstre’s solo games and that the government must be allowed to run Norway in a time of crisis without the Storting’s constant input.
Melby and Venstre shake their heads at the argument that the Constitution should prevent her from making any proposals. Read Melby’s response at the bottom of the case.
Politicians in town: Don’t slow down
An unusual alliance
The notice was signed by a number of Norwegian political heavyweights. Former Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader Erna Solberg, Former Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, FRP Leader Sylvi Listhaug, Former Development Minister Dag-Inge Ulstein, Center Party Parliamentary Leader Marit Arnstad , Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes and Labor Party parliamentary leader Rigmor Aasrud and more.
Melby’s commitment to foreign policy thus succeeded in creating the unusual alliance between Frp, H, Ap, KrF, Sp, SV and Rødt.
– This should be interpreted as a signal from the Storting that there are some things that we believe are government work, in which the Storting should not be involved, Marit Arnstad of the Center Party tells Dagbladet.
Rebellion in the Storting: – I refuse
Irritation
Sources Dagbladet spoke out to highlight several reasons for the irritation.
Incidentally, the Liberals wanted tighter controls on arms exports just before the war in Ukraine, but then agreed to “send almost all the weapons we had” when Russia attacked.
Dagbladet is also aware that there have been strong reactions to Melby’s coming out to the media with comments after meetings in the Extended Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense (DUUFK).
Sources point out to Dagbladet that Melby may have received information that the government will implement something in DUUFK, so he has asked the government to implement the same.
Melby flatly refuses it to Dagbladet.
“It’s bad style,” says one source, while another calls it an “attempt to be foreign minister” by the Liberal Party.
Save the port closes
– I heard the same thing
Melby tells Dagbladet he knows about the case.
– I have heard these things myself, and I fear it may be true that those parties think that the Liberals and I have become so annoying. I think this just means that we in the Liberal Party are doing our job, she says.
– I understand that it can be annoying having to answer critical questions, but we have also shined a spotlight on issues that have helped turn away other parties. Many of the parties behind this remark eventually agreed with us on the Ukraine issue, Melby continues.
He also rejects the argument that the constitution should get in the way of deciding Venstre’s request.
– These parties, through the treatment of the Harberg Committee, have underlined the margins of action of the Storting also in foreign policy, so this argument does not hold up.
